In a mayoral election that drew historic turnout numbers, Documented reporters fanned out across the city to ask voters why they felt compelled to go to the polls. Here’s what they said.
Voter Grace Ezgili, 25, of Brooklyn. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
Voter Grace Ezgili, 25, of Brooklyn. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
As the sun rose on Election Day, more than 732,000 early voters had already turned out to cast their ballots for New York City’s next mayor. By night’s end, more than 2 million New Yorkers had gone to the polls to vote, a historic turnout which has not been seen in the city for over five decades.
The last months of the New York City mayoral campaign have been electric, embattled, relentless — but, at least in the case of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, it has been hopeful too.
New York City is home to approximately 3.1 million immigrants, making up nearly 40% of the city’s total population. And many of those immigrants helped tip the scales in Mamdani’s favor. They, together with other New Yorkers, say that Mamdani’s platform, which was centered on affordability and built upon a mantle of inclusiveness, made them feel seen, inspired and compelled to make their voices heard.
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“Mamdani really cares, you know. You can actually see it,” said Brandon Ortiz, 21, who voted in the Bronx on Tuesday. “I want to vote for somebody like that.”
Gary Tai, 50, of Staten Island says that his immigrant history is what makes him take his duty to vote very seriously. “I came to the U.S. from Hong Kong when I was 16, and I see voting as both my right and my responsibility,” he said. “I want to help elect a mayor who will keep New York City safe, enforce the laws, invest in infrastructure, ease traffic congestion, and ensure that policies benefit all New Yorkers.”
“New York City is one of the most diverse places in our country and it’s been getting harder and harder for a lot of people to live here,” said L. C., 31, an MRI tech who voted for Mamdani at Confucius Plaza in Chinatown. “I felt the need to vote for someone I thought would help the people living here, someone who truly cares about the city, and would fight to protect it… It doesn’t matter what minority you’re talking about. We’re talking about all of us.”
Kathy Gordon and her daughter Ava. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“I have always known that this is my God-given right to vote and that is what I’ve tried to instill in my children . . . We vote because we can — ’cause we’re women, ’cause we’re Black. This is our city and this is our country.”
Kathy Gordon, 58, with her daughter Ava, 21, in Manhattan
Erin Mysogland. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“I work with college students doing civic engagement and teaching peace and justice studies . . . the Mamdani campaign has been really exciting. More students than ever have been excited by the mayoral campaigns — canvassing, volunteering.
We have a ton of students working the polls here on campus, and so it’s brought a lot of energy.”
Erin Mysogland, 30, in Manhattan
Jaeden Y. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented
“I think Zohran looks out for immigrants. He is an immigrant . . . My parents and all of their siblings immigrated here to America from the Philippines.
So it worries me, of course, when they say this anti-immigrant rhetoric, on how they’re making the country a lot worse, even though they’re just people looking here for better lives.”
Jaeden Y., 22, in Manhattan
A quiet scene from Election Day in the Bronx. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented.
Grace Ezgili. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“My parents take this election so seriously. They woke up early to leave for work — but they had to vote . . . They came to this country so that I didn’t need to go through what they went through in Turkey.
My mom was grateful to come to this country, to have her dream of a family that can live freely and do what they want for a living without any, like, consequences.”
Grace Ezgili, 25, in Brooklyn
Graffiti on a barricade across from a polling place at the Taiwan Center in Flushing reads, “VOTE SLIWA”. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
Vincent, 18, pictured left. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“I just think that it’s very important to, you know, fight for the rights of New Yorkers and working-class New Yorkers — especially with all the attacks on immigrants from the Trump administration.
Mamdani is willing to fight back against Trump and I also would feel a lot safer having Mamdani Mayor because I am a queer person myself and there’s been a lot of attacks on trans rights.”
Vincent, 18, pictured left in Manhattan
A “Vote here, Vote Aqui” sign seen plastered to a wall in the Bronx on Election Day 2025. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented
Brandon Ortiz and Emily Ortiz. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented
“Mamdani really cares, you know. You can actually see it. You can see how he speaks all different sorts of languages to connect with the community better and I really like all that. I want to vote for somebody like that.”
Brandon Ortiz, 21, with his sister Emily Ortiz, 26, in the Bronx. Both voted for Zohran Mamdani.
An American flag hangs in an apartment window in the Bronx on Election Day 2025. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented.
Joyce Q. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
“My parents immigrated from China . . . It’s important to make the city a place that is livable for the normal people who don’t come over with a lot of money. My parents came over and they kind of had nothing, they had to start from the bottom work really long hours, hard jobs, et cetera.”
Joyce Q., 22, in Manhattan
Reagan Baker. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“I think the local elections are the most important, especially if you are a business owner and you care about the people who work for you.”
Reagan Baker, 41, in Manhattan
L.C. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
“New York City is one of the most diverse places in our country and it’s been getting harder and harder for a lot of people to live here.
I felt the need to vote for someone I thought would help the people living here, someone who truly cares about the city, and would fight to protect it from everything else going on in the country right now. It doesn’t matter what minority you’re talking about. We’re talking about all of us.”
L.C., 31, Manhattan
On Election Day, children play on a path at the Queens Botanic Garden near a polling place in Flushing. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
Vivian Chu and M.B.C. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
“ICE reminds me of childhood because my father had a restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and immigration enforcement would come almost weekly. This is not something that is unique. I lived through it in the eighties, seventies. You know, growing up in a restaurant environment, always people running.”
Vivian Chu, pictured with her friend M.B.C., 29, in Chinatown. Chu voted for Mamdani and M.B.C. voted for Andrew Cuomo.
In Flushing, Queens, people pass behind a bus stop where a Curtis Sliwa campaign sign hangs. Photo: Sam Hsiaomei Lee for Documented.
Molly. Photo: Taurat Hossain for Documented.
“I care about immigrant rights because they are our neighbors and I care about my neighbors . . . I voted for Zohran Mamdani because I believe he will represent all of New Yorkers and their best interests.”
Molly, 31, in Brooklyn
Sara Morales. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented.
“These issues are monumental. We need to maintain our democracy, and anybody that supports the current president should not be [the mayor] . . . I hope the next mayor sticks to their guns and doesn’t bend to Trump’s requests or demands.
I think we need to leave this to the young people. It’s time for a change, and it’s time for a change throughout the whole country.”
Sara Morales, 69, in the Bronx
The 2025 New York City mayoral race saw the highest voter turnout in decades. More than 2 million New Yorkers voted before the polls closed at 9 p.m., the first time that total had been surpassed since 1969. Photo: Corrie Aune for Documented.
Katrine Dermody is an award-winning journalist, editor and video producer. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Katrine is currently working as an editor at Documented, her previous work can be found at outlets such as Doha Debates, Fusion, and AJ+.
Taurat Hossain (he/him) is a New York–based photographer working across fashion, commercial editorial, and long-form documentary projects. His work, featured in The Washington Post’s “Best Styles Photos of 2024,” has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, Harper’s Bazaar, and more. Commercial clients include New Balance, PopSugar, and Von Dutch, with recent commissions for Bloomberg Originals’ show Bullish.
