Mamdani finally weighs in on critical housing ballots questions as he votes on Election Day

Chris Sommerfeldt, Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News on Nov 4, 2025

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NEW YORK — Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani voted Tuesday to approve three controversial housing development-related ballot questions after refusing for weeks to take a position on the measures.

As he went in to cast his ballot Tuesday morning at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Mamdani said he would vote yes on ballot questions 2, 3 and 4 because of the “urgent” need to build more housing across the city.

Some of his key allies, including City Comptroller Brad Lander and Gov. Kathy Hochul, have been supportive of the measures, arguing they would be critical tools for addressing the city’s housing crisis.

But other prominent Mamdani supporters, including many Democratic members of the City Council, have been vehemently opposed to the questions, arguing they give the mayor too much power.

That dynamic left Mamdani in a fraught position, and he declined for weeks to say how he’d vote on the questions. Outside his polling site in Astoria, he said he decided to ultimately back them in hopes the reforms would help him as mayor to address the dearth of affordable apartments in the city.

“We urgently need to more housing to be built across the five boroughs, and we also need to ensure that that housing is creating high quality union jobs,” Mamdani told the Daily News as he walked into vote with his wife, artist Rama Duwaji.

“And I also understand that there are City Council members in opposition to these measures, and their oppositions is driven by commitment to their communities and a deep concern about investment in those communities, and I share the commitment to that investment and I look forward to working with them on delivering that.”

Mamdani’s top opponent in the mayoral race, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, has previously said he supports all the housing-related questions. Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, who has consistently polled behind both Cuomo and Mamdani, opposed all the questions.

Together, the housing proposals could significantly pare down the power of City Council members, who currently exercise de facto veto power over development in their districts due to the Council’s longstanding practice of member deference. Critics argue that works as a deterrent to housing growth.

Ballot proposals 2, 3 and 4 would create a “fast track” for affordable housing, shorten the approvals process for some developments and establish an affordable housing appeals board that’d give the mayor a pathway to override Council denial of some developments citywide.

Proponents of the questions — which were advanced by outgoing Mayor Adams — argue the measures would allow badly-needed housing to be constructed more quickly in the city as it struggles with a dire housing shortage and skyrocketing rents. Opponents have been concerned about the plans being a mayoral power grab, especially No. 4, which would create the citywide appeals board system.

Asked about the No. 4 question after voting, Mamdani promised to use that power responsibly if elected.

“That is a power, like all mayoral power, that must be used to deliver for New Yorkers, and I am looking forward to working alongside the City Council in delivering the kind of investments that so often communities have been denied, and to finally ensure that we understand the strength of this city be measured by the neighborhoods furthest from City Hall, not by the ones just closest around you,” he said.

Mamdani also said he voted against ballot question 6, which could shift local city elections to even-numbered years.

“I found the arguments in opposition to number 6 to be quite compelling, especially those making the case for New Yorkers to have a distinct opportunity to weigh their future,” the candidate said.

Mamdani said he also voted yes on the first ballot prop, which will determine whether to allow an Olympic sports complex on state forest preserve land in the Adirondacks. He checked yes, too, on question 5, which would digitize the city’s maps.

Asked how he voted in the mayoral race, Mamdani laughed and replied he marked his ballot for the “best candidate in the race.”

Polls are open until 9 p.m. Tuesday.