Ranked Choice Voting Guide
How to Vote in NYC’s 2025 Mayoral Primary
This post is where I stand—and I hope it helps you shape your ballot.
Voting isn’t liberation, but it is part of the work. The New York City Democratic mayoral primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, with early voting beginning on June 14. The winner of this primary likely becomes the next mayor.
This year, we’re using ranked-choice voting, which means you can rank up to five candidates. That makes strategy crucial—especially in a race where both Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are serious threats to working-class New Yorkers.
This post breaks down who’s worth ranking—and who isn’t. While voting isn’t the entire fight, it’s one of the tools we have. Let’s use it well to better the lives of the working-class, underclass, and Indigenous New Yorkers.
Who to Rank
Here’s a recommended ranked list of progressive, people-powered candidates who can help make NYC more livable:
Zohran Mamdani – State Assemblymember and rising leader in the left movement. AOC-endorsed immigrant justice advocate and deeply committed to working-class New Yorkers.
Brad Lander – NYC Comptroller, long record of standing up for housing, climate, and budget transparency.
Zellnor Myrie – State Senator with a clear grasp of NYC’s most significant challenges and substantial legislative experience.
Adrienne Adams – NYC Council Speaker, endorsed by Tish James. An honorable history, although too pro-NYPD to rank higher.
Michael Blake – Former Assembly member and DNC Vice Chair. Strong communicator at the debate against Cuomo’s dangerous record.
Who Not To Rank
Andrew Cuomo – Billionaire-backed, implicated in multiple scandals and didn’t even live in NYC for years. A disaster waiting to happen.
Jessica Ramos – Appalled many by endorsing Cuomo after years of calling him out. A deep betrayal of core progressive values and raises concerning questions.