What to Know About the 2025 Elections in New York City

Key Dates Before the June Primary

• February 14: Last day to change your party enrollment for the primary, e.g. if you are an independent voter and want to switch to the Democratic or Republican party to be able to participate in New York’s primary.
• June 9: Last day to change your address before the June primary.
• June 14: Voter registration deadline for the primary and the last day the Board of Elections can receive an application for absentee ballots for the primary.
• June 14-22: Early voting period.
• June 24: Primary Day

Key Dates Before Election Day in November

• October 25-November 2: Early voting for the general election.
• October 25: Voter registration deadline for the general election
• November 4: General election.

Who’s Running for Mayor?

As of January 2025, here are the people who have declared they are running for mayor, and how much the major candidates have fundraised. But keep in mind: We won’t know exactly who’s in the running until much later in the spring after a process called petitioning that candidates must follow to legally secure a spot on the ballot. Here’s the timeline for that.

But let’s back up. What does the mayor do?

Whoever serves as the mayor has enormous influence over the day-to-day lives of every New Yorker. They choose the heads of every city agency, like the Department of Social Services, Department of Education and the NYPD, and can approve or veto each piece of legislation passed by the City Council.

They also choose which are the most important goals for the city. Should we spend money on developing affordable housing, or hiring more teachers, or building projects to protect our infrastructure from climate change? 

Many of those decisions involve the city’s $115 billion budget — more than the gross domestic product of Croatia or Costa Rica — that serves as a blueprint for how we do things in the city.

One thing to remember: The mayor, contrary to popular belief, has limited influence over the MTA, so fares, tolls and policies on the subways, buses, bridges and tunnels are for the most part not in City Hall’s control.

There are of course so many other things the mayor influences. For more information, this guide from the Campaign Finance Board is helpful.

Yup, we’re doing ranked choice voting again

This year is the second citywide election using what’s known as ranked choice voting. Basically, you get to rate your favorite candidates from one to five. Here’s our guide on RCV and many frequently asked questions from readers about how it works.

Remember two things about ranked choice before heading to the polls: 1) You can rank up to five candidates, but you do not have to fill all five slots. If you like only three candidates, rank only those three. 2) If you don’t like a candidate at all, don’t rank them. Putting a candidate on your ballot means you want them in office, not that you dislike them the least.

Other Races to Watch

Here are all the other races on the ballot this year:

City Comptroller

Here are the candidates in the race to be the city’s next fiscal watchdog. The job includes managing a staff of more than 700 people, handling union contracts, a multi-billion dollar pension fund and conducting audits of city agencies.

Public Advocate

The current public advocate, Jumaane Williams, is up for reelection this year after serving a four-year term. He can serve once more before being term limited. While the public advocate’s office has little staff — and next to no real power — the position is first in line for mayor if the current mayor cannot serve or vacates the office.

Borough presidents

All five borough presidents are term limited. But what is a borough president and what do they do? Read our guide.

City Council

The entirety of the 51 seats in the City Council are also up for election this year, including nine Councilmembers who are term-limited and cannot run again. Among those nine are some of the Council’s top leaders, including Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) and minority leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island.) Not sure who represents you? Check here.

District attorneys

In Manhattan and Brooklyn, district attorneys Alvin Bragg and Eric Gonzalez are up for reelection. Reminder: Because these offices are within the state court system, they are not decided by ranked choice voting, which only applies to municipal offices. Voters will cast their ballot traditionally for DA, by choosing only their top candidate.

Conclusion

The 2025 elections in New York City are shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the city’s history. With the mayor, comptroller, and many City Council seats up for grabs, voters will have a significant say in shaping the city’s future. Make sure to stay informed and exercise your right to vote.

FAQs

What is ranked choice voting?

Ranked choice voting is a system in which voters rank their favorite candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters’ second-choice rankings.

How do I know which candidates are running for office?

You can check the New York City Board of Elections website for a list of candidates running in each election. You can also check the websites of the candidates themselves or attend candidate forums and debates to learn more about their platforms and qualifications.

What is the deadline to register to vote?

The deadline to register to vote varies depending on the election. For the June primary, the deadline is June 14. For the November general election, the deadline is October 25.