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Polls have opened in New York and some key US states as fresh "off year" elections test the popularity of Donald Trump's Republican party and Democrats' ability to bounce back from drastic 2024 losses. Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are choosing their governors, but it is the campaign of young leftist Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat vying to run the Big Apple, which has garnered the most public attention. He is widely predicted to beat independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and, if elected, would become New York's first Muslim mayor and its youngest leader in decades. 'Time for a new day in our politics' Speaking after voting in New York City, Mr Mamdani said his campaign wanted to "transform the most expensive city in the United States of America into one that's affordable for each and every person who calls it home". He also thanked the 100,000 volunteers who helped fuel his campaign. "It is time now for a new day in our politics," he said. When asked about Mr Trump's threat to reduce federal funding to New York if he won, Mr Mamdani said he would "not be intimidated by this president". The outcome of the mayoral race is being eyed up as a test of the future of the Democrats, with Mr Mamdani's campaign centring on the cost of living. He has promised higher taxes on the richest New Yorkers, rent freezes for one million apartments, free bus fares and free universal child care. But his comments about the conflict in Gaza and his criticism of Israel's actions there, in a city with a large Jewish population, have prompted criticism. Some Democrats have refused to endorse him, and Mr Mamdani's rise has also drawn the ire of Republicans, including US President Donald Trump, who has cast the 34-year-old as a radical. Opinion polls have consistently placed Mr Mamdani first, with Mr Cuomo a distant second followed by Mr Sliwa. Despite being the Republican candidate, Mr Trump has urged voters not to vote for Mr Sliwa and instead chose Mr Cuomo, who is at attempting to stage a political comeback after resigning as New York state governor over sexual harassment allegations. A day earlier, Mr Cuomo told a crowd of supporters Mr Mamdani's victory would see Mr Trump "send the National Guard here to New York". He also reiterated key election commitments of his campaign, including cleaning up the city, improving its public schools and putting more police on the streets. Mr Sliwa, talking on Monday, ended his campaign by paying tribute to the victims of violent crime in New York. And he also took shots at Mr Cuomo, describing the former governor as being like "the uncle you don't want to come over on the holiday". "Whereas if you've noticed, when I'm out in the streets, wherever I go, there are young people who are attracted to my campaign. Most of my campaign team is comprised of millennials and Gen Zers," he said. Other key races being held across the US The New York mayoral contest is just one of several races being decided on Tuesday evening, local time. Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are also choosing their next governors, with US pundits casting those races as a gauge of Mr Trump's popularity and the American electorate's mood in general. The New Jersey race is expected to be close, according to opinion polls, while Democrat Abigail Spanberger holds a comfortable polling lead over Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears. In California, voters will also determine whether to give Democratic politicians the power to redraw the state's seats in the US House of Representatives. That is part of a national battle between Republicans and Democrats over redistricting that could determine which party controls the House after next year's midterm elections. The Californian ballot measure is expected to pass if polling is accurate.
