Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC

So far, the elections have played a relatively minor role in today’s press briefing from Karoline Leavitt.

Given the local nature of today’s elections, that should perhaps come as no surprise. The government shutdown and its impact, for example, are much broader, national issues.

There has been, however, been brief mentions of Zohran Mamdani – and the administration’s hostility to him is clear.

Leavitt left the possibility open that Trump would cut federal finding to New York City should Mamdami emerge victorious – but only teased that an announcement would come after the fact.

“We won’t get ahead of the election result,” she said. “Nor will I speak to what the President may do in the future. We’ll see how tonight goes.”

Earlier in the briefing, Leavitt also addressed comments from Mamdani regarding his remarks, in which he linked the Trump administration to voter intimidation efforts.

Leavitt said those remarks are “completely irresponsible” and “based on zero evidence.”

“I think this is just another example of how the Democrat Party unfortunately stands for nothing,” she added. “All they stand against is President Donald Trump. I think it’s quite sad to see that we have someone at the top of the ticket on an Election Day saying such things.”

In New York city’s mayoral race…

Polls opened At 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) for voters in New York city.

They will remain open for ballots to be cast on the mayoral race until 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).

Elsewhere in the US… Votes for governors, a state’s supreme court, and congressional lines take place

Away from New York, there’s also votes happening in Virginia, New Jersey, and California today.

Polls opened at 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) in Virginia and New Jersey where a vote for governor is taking place.

Votes on the next Virginia governor will close at 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT).

In New Jersey, polls will close an hour later at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT).

Meanwhile on the west coast, polls opened at 07:00 local time in California (15:00 GMT), where a vote is taking place on how the state’s congressional lines are to be redrawn.

Polls in California will then close at 20:00 local time (04:00 GMT).

And in Pennsylvania, polls for control of the Pennsylvania supreme court – where three Justices are up for retention – opened at 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT), and close at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT).

As we’ve been reporting, while New York city chooses its next mayor, Americans are also taking to the polls for an important vote in California today.

On the west coast, a Proposition 50 ballot measure backed by Governor Gavin Newsom is now at the ballot box.

As Republican-led states like Texas and Missouri seek to redraw their congressional maps to give their party an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections, Democrat Gavin Newsom is seeking to do the same for his own party.

He hopes to allow the temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. This is unusual in California, which by law relies on a nonpartisan committee to draw its congressional maps once every decade based on census data.

The campaign has drawn $158 million in donations, according to the Los Angeles Times, and Newsom recently asked supporters to back off on donations, saying his teams had hit their budget goals to pass the proposition.

US President Donald Trump is a long-time opponent of Newsom, and is not in favour of today’s vote.

He has called the “unconstitutional” vote a “GIANT SCAM” and has warned that the voting system itself is “RIGGED”.

Writing on Truth Social a little earlier, he adds that the use of mail-in ballots in the state “is under very serious legal and criminal review”.

The topics being discussed in the city this election cycle range from free public buses to handling Trump’s relationship with New York.

Lets take a look at where candidates stand on some of the biggest issues on the table.

Affordable housing

New Yorkers face high costs of living on everything – especially rent, and all three candidates have made affordability central to their campaigns.

Mamdani has promised rent freezes on stabilised apartments and to hold corrupt landlords accountable. Cuomo takes issue with rent freezes, saying he wants to limit who can qualify for rent stabilised apartments. Sliwa thinks the next mayor should free up vacant apartments in NYCHA – New York’s public housing programme – and allow people to move in.

Public transit

Another Mamdani proposal that has drawn criticism from both of his opponents is making all New York City buses free.

At the last debate, Sliwa scoffed at the suggestion, saying many people already skip their fares and, under Mamdani, public transit would attract vagrants.

Cuomo says Mamdani’s plans are “subsidizing the rich” and that transit should not be free for those who can afford to pay.

Homelessness

Sliwa and Cuomo both want to add more police officers to the NYPD and crack down on crime. Mamdani wants to keep the police force’s budget the same and add a “Department of Community Safety” to address 911 calls about homelessness or mental health concerns.

Dealing with Washington

All three candidates have proposed different ways of dealing with Trump as the president threatens to cut funding to the city and send in federal troops. Cuomo and Mamdani say they will stand up to the president while Sliwa says he will work with him.

“If he every wants to come for New Yorkers in the way that he has been, he’s going to have to get through me,” Mamdani said at a debate.

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

While the vote for the Big Apple’s next mayor might be the most eye-catching of the US elections today, there are other votes to be aware of.

California redistricting

California’s Democratic leadership is asking voters for permission to redraw the state’s congressional districts in the middle of the decade.

That’s unusual in California, which by law relies on a nonpartisan committee to draw its congressional maps once every decade, based on census data.

But, as Republican-led states like Texas and Missouri seek to withdraw their congressional maps for an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections, California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to counter the losses with redistricting in his own state.

New Jersey governor’s race

New Jersey is considered a Democratic state, but polls indicate a close race between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Sherrill currently represents New Jersey’s 11th District in Congress, and Ciattarelli is a former state assemblyman.

Despite leaning blue, the state has had Republican governors in the past. The last one, Chris Christie, served two terms between 2010 and 2018.

Virginia governor’s race

Virginia’s leadership usually swings between Democrats and Republicans, meaning the outcome of this year’s gubernatorial – meaning an event relating to a governor – election might serve as a bellwether for the electorate’s mood.

No matter which candidate succeeds, the state will elect its first female governor this year. Voters will choose between Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a US congresswoman, and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the state’s current lieutenant governor.

• We’ve more on five things to know about today’s elections – including the impact of the Trump factor – in our news story

Let’s bring you some fresh images coming to us from across New York where two of the candidates have been out casting their own votes.

Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has arrived at a polling station in the Queens borough with his wife Ruma Duwaji to cast their vote – and also to speak with members of the media who have gathered.

We are yet to see any images of Curtis Sliwa, but Andrew Cuomo has been spotted voting along side his daughters Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo and Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Good morning from the White House, which remains relatively empty even on a newsy day in the US capital.

At the moment, there is nothing on President Trump’s schedule, meaning that we do not expect that we will see him on camera unless something changes.

He has, however, been busy posting on Truth Social, commenting on his endorsements, criticising Zohran Mamdami and imploring voters to cast their ballots for Republican candidates.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is scheduled to hold a briefing at 1300e (1800g) in which we’re likely to hear more about the elections from the White House.

Stay with us for more details.

It is polling day in New York City – and as you would expect locals have been out voting for their choice of mayor.

So, are New Yorkers picking Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo or Curtis Sliwa?

Have a watch below.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from New York

It’s election day in New York City and in state and local elections around the United States, though only some Americans are casting ballots today.

Polls have been open since early this morning in New York, and votes are also rolling in in governors contests in New Jersey and Virginia.

In New York, three candidates are vying for the chance to lead the US’s largest city: Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

The race has captured national attention, with cost of living in the spotlight and President Donald Trump weighing in against front-runner Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist.

In Virginia and New Jersey, voters will elect new governors, and the outcome of these contests could be bellwethers for next year’s congressional midterm elections.

Californians also will decide whether to redraw their US House district maps in a rare mid-decade redistricting, as Democrats try to counter Republicans’ efforts to give their party an advantage in next year’s midterm elections.

We will bring you all the action from the streets of New York and across the country, and we’ll have the results right here when the ballots are tallied, so stick with us.