NYC’s getting ready for its upcoming mayoral race, where education has emerged as an important factor, with each candidate presenting different visions for the future of all schools in NYC. Each candidate offers various different policies that are aimed to improve our education as students.
And before we know it, our city will decide who takes the reins as mayor—or whether the current one gets to stay. While politics might not be on your TikTok feed, the outcome of this race could seriously impact your daily school life—class sizes, mental health support, student safety, and more.
To find out how students are feeling, we asked local seniors what they want from the next mayor.
“We want to feel heard.” Senior, Sahnai Lee, who just turned 18, is ready to vote. “It’s one of the few ways we can really have a say in what happens around us,” she said. “A good mayor listens to people and makes decisions based on what the community needs, not just what looks good politically.” She hopes the next mayor will boost community investment—especially in youth mental health and public safety—and reduce crime.
“Let’s talk about change,” said Valerie Nicole, a senior who is counting the days until she can vote in the mayoral election. When asked what changes she wants to see, Nicole said, “Change is something not many people can accomplish, but I want to see more mental health programs. I want safety to be improved, and I want better support for students overall.” She continued, “We need someone who can inspire us and promote change.” Nicole also expressed her desire for more after-school activities, enhanced mental health programs, and better support for local businesses to help communities thrive.
Another student, LH, believes, “When it comes to helping the community, the leader needs to put their needs before others. Overall, they should understand that a leader is the one who is always going to have to make a sacrifice.” LH wants our new mayor to be someone who can see and solve problems, not just ignore them. She wants the mayor of our city to be confident and display intelligence. She expressed, “I personally am glad that there are women running for mayor. Let this world see what a woman can do.”
Who are the candidates? What are they promising? Let’s break down what each of the four leading candidates says they’ll do—and what students like you and me might see if they win.
Andrew Cuomo: Democrat, Former Governor, Leading in Polls
Andrew Cuomo has revealed a 25-point education plan that marks a shift from his original pro-charter approach. He’s working together with the United Federation of Teachers, his platform emphasizes making public school education stronger. Especially making initiatives for early childhood education, community schools with health plans, and class reduction sizes. He has toned down his support for charter schools, focusing on the public education system.
Andrew Cuomo’s campaign, cuomoformayor.com, focuses on addressing housing, childcare, health, transportation, economic development, job creation, and making living in New York better.
Cuomo has been accused of underfunding public schools, but he’s taking a turn in his proposal, and as of May, he decided to tone down charter school support, and shift his focus to improve public education. As reported by The New York Post, with Cuomo stating that “Access to excellence should be available in every neighborhood for students.”
During his time as Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo made teacher evaluations and standardized testing a significant focus of his education policy. This however led to controversy with educators and unions.
Brad Lander: Democrat, NYC Comptroller, Education Advocate
City Comptroller Brad Lander, known for his progressive stance, has a history of advocating for educational equity. Although specific education policies in his current mayoral campaign are not detailed in his campaign’s provided sources, his past work suggests a focus on integrating schools and addressing disparities.
Lander’s plan for New York City overall is to end street homelessness and help those with serious mental illness to make streets and subways safer for all. He also aims to rebuild a more equitable economy and prepare the city for the future.
Lander has mentioned his plans for schools, which include:
Strengthening public schools: Lander believes “public schools should be strengthened, not split.”
Smaller class sizes: Lander supports implementing class caps to reduce chaos and improve learning outcomes.
More mental health resources in high schools specifically; less standardized testing: Lander advocates for a more holistic and student-centered approach.
In a Gothamist interview, Lander said, “We must invest in every student, not measure them into submission.”
Eric Adams: Independent, Current Mayor Seeking Re-election
Eric Adams has prioritized career readiness and literacy in his education plan. His administration launched the Career Readiness and Modern Youth Apprenticeship (CRMYA) program, allowing thousands of students to get paid apprenticeships in finance and technology. Adams expanded the FutureReadyNYC program by partnering with Google to provide learning opportunities for high schoolers. He introduced NYC Reads, a program that ensures students become readers and helps schools develop a better curriculum.
Adams’ plan for New York City focuses on protecting people, growing the economy, uplifting youth, and building infrastructure. He aims to improve New York for a better future.
Now running as an Independent, Adams recently announced the hiring of 3,700 new teachers to cap high school classes at 25 students by 2028.
His announced plan for NYC schools includes:
Hiring 3,700 teachers: This is aimed at reducing high school class sizes to 25 students by 2028.
Youth investment: Supports STEM expansion and summer enrichment programs.
Discipline and safety focus: Pushes for structured environments and school security.
Other press have noted some points. Politico reported that Adams has faced “pushback from progressive educators for prioritizing school policing and budget cuts.” The New York Daily News reported support from moderate parents who say, “Eric gets what it means to keep schools open and structured.”
Zohran Mamdani: Democrat, Progressive Queens State Assembly Member
Zohran Mamdani is a democratic socialist currently advocating for bold reforms in education. He proposed universal free childcare and wants to eliminate property taxes for universities, except those making a large amount of money, to fund public education. He also supports tuition-free CUNY and SUNY schools.
Mamdani’s plan for New York City is to lower the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers. He focuses on affordability and equity but hasn’t detailed a comprehensive education plan yet. Still, he is likely to support more resources for underfunded schools. In the past, he’s suggested plans to improve schools, such as:
Equity-focused: Known for championing fair housing, public health, and justice reforms.
Likely support for public school funding: Voted for bills that increased funding to Title I schools.
Against charter expansion: Has publicly criticized the privatization of public services.
City & State NY described Mamdani as “a rising star among the DSA-aligned candidates… committed to dismantling inequality at the roots.” In a recent tweet, Mamdani said, “Equity isn’t charity—it’s justice. And that includes education.”
Scott Stringer: Democrat, Former NYC Comptroller
Scott Stringer’s plan is to create a more affordable and equitable New York City by expanding child care, building affordable housing, reforming policing, and increasing mental health support. Stringer emphasizes a particular approach to education, focusing mainly on:
Early Childhood Education: Stringer wants to expand affordable early childhood education for infants and toddlers and increase child care assistance for working families.
Classroom Support: Implementation of two-teacher models in every K-5 classroom to provide personalized instruction.
Mental Health Services and Equity/Inclusion: Increase social workers in schools, establish mental health support, and fund more diversity and equality groups.
Stringer’s plan has been recognized by many. “We need to make child care affordable and accessible for every working family. That starts with investing in early childhood education and ensuring that no parent has to choose between their job and their child’s care,” he said in a speech in NYC.
Zellnor Myrie: Democrat, State Senator from Brooklyn
Zellnor Myrie proposes a universal after-school program for all public school students, extending care until 6 p.m. on weekdays. His plan also involves expanding spots in New York City’s no-cost summer academic and enrichment programs, aiming to support working families and enhance student engagement and development.
Myrie’s plan is to make the city more livable for working families by building one million homes, offering free after-school programs, and strengthening tenant protections. He focuses on making education more accessible and supportive, particularly for working families. He plans to:
Increase and make after-school programming accessible: Proposes to make all after-school programs citywide free of charge.
Affordable child care: Highlights the high cost of raising children in NYC, advocating for policies that alleviate financial burdens on families.
He mentioned in his plan to improve NYC, especially education, “As a product of our public schools, I know their value. That’s why I fought to deliver record aid to New York City’s public schools—to give every student a fair shot.”
Adrienne Adams: Democrat, NYC Council Speaker and Mayoral Candidate
Based on her platform, Adrienne Adams is focusing her campaign on integrity and leadership. She hasn’t detailed specific education policies, but her alignment with educational values suggests her support.
As the current speaker of the New York City Council, she has big plans for the city’s future. Her plan is to promote equity, affordability, public safety, and accountability. Regarding education, she plans to:
Early childhood education and childcare: Invest in early childhood education and the education equity plan. She increased funding in education, allowing for more materials. Adams stated, “We are continuing to sound the alarm because our early childhood education system is in full crisis mode. Working families across the five boroughs cannot afford these failures moving forward, and the city has to get it right,” according to City and State New York.
Expansion of 3-K and Pre-K programs: Her plan aims to add over 1,500 seats in high-need communities in schools with 3-K programs.
She advocates for more funding. She stated, “As the first woman mayor of the City of New York, I’m going to bring no scandal, no drama, no nonsense — just integrity and competence. That’s what the city needs,” according to CityNews.
What is the mayoral election process?
The mayoral election is a two-part process: a primary election in June, in which voters of each political party choose their nominees, followed by the general election in November.
This year’s primary is on June 24. In the primary, voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If a candidate gets more than 50%, they are considered “safe.” The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and that candidate’s votes are redistributed to the next choice until one candidate surpasses 50%. This primary will determine the Democratic nominee for mayor. Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election as an independent and is not participating in the primary.
The general election is on November 4. This election will feature the winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries, as well as independent candidates like Eric Adams. The candidate who receives the most votes will become the next mayor of New York City.
What Happens If a Candidate Loses the Primary?
If a candidate loses the primary of a political party, that candidate typically cannot appear on the general election ballot under that party. Some candidates choose to run under different parties or as independents. For example, Andrew Cuomo is participating in the Democratic primary but has also established an independent party called “Fight and Deliver,” which allows him to remain in the general election regardless of whether he loses the primary.
So… Who’s the Right Choice?
Whether it’s smaller class sizes, more after-school programs, or safer neighborhoods, your voice matters. Even if you can’t vote this year, you can speak up, get informed, and spread the word. “It’s really important for us especially to get involved and make our voices heard.”
Election Day is November 5, 2025. If you’re 18 by then, make your voice count. Call 1-212-487-5400 to learn more about how elections work—or ask how to register. Because this is your city too.