Dear John, Yesterday’s New York City primary was full of energy, as hundreds of thousands of voters went to the polls despite temperatures over 100 degrees. Here are some highlights: - New Yorkers experienced a better campaign with ranked choice voting (RCV), including cross-endorsements and joint campaigning for mayor.
- The city had its highest voter turnout since 1989.
- The city is poised to maintain its majority-women City Council. Voters elected the city’s first-ever majority-women Council in their first RCV election in 2021.
- Several close City Council races will go to RCV tabulation on July 1.
Though ranked choice voting may not have changed the outcome in the Democratic campaign for mayor, the reform helped deliver a different kind of campaign in New York. Instead of tearing each other down, candidates cross-endorsed each other, criss-crossing the city and campaigning together on issues important to voters. Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani called it “the politics of the future” – as he stood on stage with opponent Brad Lander at his victory party last night. There’s more good news: In 2021, the first time the city used ranked choice voting, turnout was the highest since 1989. It was even higher yesterday. New York City Democratic primary turnout, 1989-2025 | 
