Part 2/14:
Mandami's ascent to the front of the pack can be partly attributed to the unique voting system employed in the primaries—ranked-choice voting. This system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, often benefiting minority and outsider candidates who typically struggle in traditional first-past-the-post elections. In New York, this setup gave Mandami an advantageous platform, alongside the splitting of the conservative vote among candidates like former Governor Cuomo, perennial candidate Silwa, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.