The Democratic nominee, state Assemblyman and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, is facing off against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, along with some other independent and third-party candidates.

"They allow us to get a sense of where voter attitudes and energy are moving," said Carolyn Ryan, a managing editor of The New York Times who used to run its Politics desk.

High-profile races are unfolding across the country on Tuesday, including New York City's mayoral election and governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia.In California, voters will consider a ballot measure that puts forth a redrawn congressional map that could net Democrats five House seats.

New Yorkers head to the polls on Tuesday to choose the city’s next mayor, facing a sharp choice between a young socialist, a former governor with a tarnished reputation, and a Republican outsider.