A look at the noteworthy candidates running for New York City mayor on Nov. 4

By

Ballotpedia staff

Welcome to the Thursday, Aug. 14, Brew. 

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. An look at the noteworthy candidates running for New York City mayor on Nov. 4
  2. Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for August
  3. On the Ballot examines the congressional redistricting effort in Texas

A look at the noteworthy candidates running for New York City mayor on Nov. 4

Eleven candidates are running in the Nov. 4 New York City mayoral election, including the following noteworthy candidates: incumbent mayor Eric Adams (Safe&Affordable/EndAntiSemitism), Zohran Mamdani (D/Working Families Party), Curtis Sliwa (R/Protect Animals), Andrew Cuomo (Fight and Deliver), and James Walden (Integrity).

According to The New York Times’ Emma G. Fitzsimmons, “The race has focused on several major themes, including affordability, public safety and President [Donald Trump]’s agenda.”

Adams has served as mayor since 2022. He initially ran for re-election in the June 24 Democratic primary, but withdrew to run as an independent. Adams is campaigning on his record and on developing the city’s workforce.

Mamdani has represented District 36 in the New York Assembly since 2021. After three rounds of ranked-choice voting (RCV), he finished first in the Democratic primary with 56%. Mamdani is campaigning on a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments and creating a network of city-owned grocery stores. 

Cuomo served as governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. He finished second in the Democratic primary with 44% in the third round. Cuomo later announced his independent bid on July 14. Cuomo is campaigning to increase affordable housing and add 5,000 new officers to the city’s police department.

Sliwa is a talk radio host and the founder of Guardian Angels, an organization focused on combating street crime. He previously ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2021. Sliwa is campaigning to add 7,000 officers to the city’s police department and move the decision to build housing to local community boards.

Walden was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1993 to 2002 before entering private practice. He is campaigning to increase government transparency and build more than 50,000 housing units annually.

Twenty-seven of the 100 largest U.S. cities, including New York City, will hold mayoral elections this year. So far, general elections have taken place in seven cities, with two elections—in Omaha, Nebraska, and Garland, Texas—resulting in a partisan change.

To read more about the New York City mayoral election, click here. If you’re a New York City voter, check out our Sample Ballot Lookup here to prepare for Election Day.

Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for August

In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, we followed vacancies, nominations, and confirmations from July 2 to Aug. 1.

Vacancies

Since our last report, there have been three new vacancies. A vacancy occurs when a judge resigns, retires, takes senior status, or dies. 

As Article III judicial positions, the president nominates individuals to fill these vacancies. Nominations are subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.

There are 47 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions.

  • Two (1.7%) of the 179 U.S. Appeals Court positions are vacant.
  • Forty-four (6.5%) of the 677 U.S. District Court positions are vacant.
  • One (11.1%) of the nine U.S. Court of International Trade positions is vacant.

Nominations

Since our last report, Trump has announced four new nominations.

Trump has nominated 16 individuals to Article III positions during his second term.

Confirmations

Since our last report, the U.S. Senate has confirmed five nominees to Article III positions.

Click here to view our full federal judicial vacancy count.

On the Ballot examines the congressional redistricting effort in Texas

In this episode of On the Ballot, we’re heading to the Lone Star State to look at the Texas Legislature’s congressional redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Our host, Norm Leahy, interviews election analyst Nathaniel Rakich and The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff to examine the redistricting effort in Texas and other states that could also pursue redistricting.

So far, at least 12 states may redraw their congressional boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections:

  • Ohio is required to redraw its congressional district lines because of state law.
  • Georgia and Louisiana have congressional maps subject to change due to ongoing litigation.
  • Nine states are considering voluntarily redrawing their congressional maps. Texas, Florida, and California are the only states that have taken official action on the matter so far.

To listen to this episode and more, click here. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to On the Ballot on YouTube or your preferred podcast app. Plus, click here to learn more about congressional redistricting efforts before the 2026 midterm elections.