The Brian Lehrer Show City Politics: Early Voting Has Begun
Oct 29, 2025
Elizabeth Kim, a political reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, dives into the surge in early voting with Bridget Bergen, a senior political reporter focusing on election data. They discuss a fivefold increase in early voters, particularly among those aged 55 and up. Additionally, Kim sheds light on candidate Mamdani's strategic silence regarding housing proposals, while both reporters analyze voter coalition shifts and the implications for equity in housing. They also compare grassroots efforts versus paid campaigns, revealing the evolving dynamics as election day approaches.
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Older Voters Dominate Early Turnout
- Early voting in the first weekend was five times higher than four years ago, driven by older voters.
- Voters 55+ made up just over 50% of early voters while 25-34 fell to about 16%.
Early Voting Might Just Shift Behavior
- Early voting is still new in NYC and may simply shift when people vote rather than increase total turnout.
- Older voters often dominate general election turnout, complicating predictions from primary patterns.
Fear Can Drive Voter Turnout
- Campaigns may motivate turnout through fear as well as enthusiasm.
- Liz Kim notes Cuomo's team is trying to make voters afraid of Mamdani to drive turnout for Cuomo.