New York, December 4, 2025 – While Zohran Mamdani secured the mayoral victory over Andrew Cuomo last month, the New York City mayoral write-in vote reveals a surprising and expansive range of preferences among the electorate. The full list, released Tuesday, highlights a diverse cross-section of figures, ranging from prominent sports stars to historical icons, and even some misspellings of names.
The election concluded a month prior, with Mamdani’s win marking a shift from Eric Adams’ tenure. However, the process of analyzing the write-in votes offered a unique glimpse into the electorate’s varied opinions and desires.
A significant number of votes went to professional athletes. New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson topped the list with 27 votes, far surpassing the 11 cast for Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Additionally, votes were recorded for Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, former Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, Giants running back Cam Skattebo, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, alongside several others including Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Philadelphia Eagles running back “Saquan” Barkley.
Beyond the sports world, figures like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Lakers forward LeBron James and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred garnered votes. Notably, misspellings of names, such as “Jackson Dart” and “Jalen Bronson,” were submitted, indicating a potential confusion among voters.
The list also included historical figures and recognizable personalities, such as Lou Gehrig, who passed away in 1941 and Sandy Koufax, who remains an active attendee of World Series games at 89.
The diverse list, encompassing figures like Tom Brady and former Knicks head coach Tom/Thomas Thibodeau, underlines a reflection of New York’s broad social and cultural landscape. The total volume of write-in votes reveals a widespread desire to express opinions beyond the traditional political candidates.