The primary has taken on national implications, with the top two candidates tapping into Democratic voters’ hunger for a fight.
The clash consuming New York City is one that has become almost routine in Democratic politics. On one side stands a moderate pragmatist who first took public office three decades ago. On the other is a democratic socialist half his age who has leaped past more seasoned rivals and captured the imagination of the left.
The two leading Democratic candidates for mayor, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, have battled over taxing the rich, the war in Gaza and policing the city’s subways.
Yet as New Yorkers head to the polls to determine the future of their city, the two men have risen to the top of a crowded field by adopting a strikingly similar posture: that of a brawler eager to take on not only President Trump but also his own party.
Both candidates offer what they say is a path for Democrats out of the political wilderness, albeit in very different directions. It is an unyielding approach that taps into the deep psychological wounds of demoralized Democratic voters, who are seeking a muscular answer to Mr. Trump as he pushes to reduce the power of liberal states like California and New York.
The outcome of the June 24 election — one of Democrats’ first major primary fights since Mr. Trump stormed back to power — could very well set a model for ambitious Democratic candidates in the midterm elections next year and beyond.
The dynamic was on colorful display Thursday night in the race’s second and final debate. As other leading candidates quibbled over policy details and plans for “Trump-proofing” the nation’s largest city, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Mamdani sharpened their critiques.
