Candidates for mayor crisscrossed the city Sunday, making last-minute pitches to voters on the final day of early voting, a day that also saw foreign policy take center stage on the campaign trail following U.S. military strikes in Iran.

The attack, reportedly targeting Iranian nuclear sites, prompted swift reaction from the Democratic mayoral hopefuls, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“I think the world is a safer place without Iran having nuclear weapons, yes,” Cuomo said.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites made its way onto the campaign trail on Sunday

  • The developing international situation may have overshadowed the final hours of early voting

  • With high turnout during the nine-day early voting period, questions also remain about how an ongoing heat wave could affect voter participation on Tuesday

Still, he criticized the decision-making process behind the attack.

“I do believe [President Donald Trump] should’ve consulted Congress. I believe this is more of the same. This is Trump saying, ‘I don’t have to follow the rules,’” he said.

Cuomo appeared to walk a careful line, questioning the constitutionality of the strike while supporting its broader objective.

Other candidates took a firmer stance.

“Unconstitutional. It’s going to escalate the risks of war and violence and death for Iranians, for Israelis and for Americans,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander while campaigning on the Upper East Side. “The way to protect Israelis and Americans and Iranians is to reach a diplomatic solution, to make sure that Iran doesn’t acquire nuclear weapons.”

In a statement, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani also condemned the military action.

“Today’s unconstitutional military action represents a new, dark chapter in his endless series of betrayals that now threaten to plunge the world deeper into chaos,” Mamdani said. “In a city as global as ours, the impacts of war are felt deeply here at home. I am thinking of the New Yorkers with loved ones in harm’s way.”

The developing international situation may have overshadowed the final hours of early voting, when candidates were making their last appeals before Tuesday’s primary.

“The weather is not so great, but we can get through that. Please get out and vote,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.

With high turnout during the nine-day early voting period, questions remain about how an ongoing heat wave could affect voter participation on Tuesday.

“I don’t know the extent that the Adams administration has done the obvious and necessary things that should be done — cooling centers, precautions, etc. — that any competent administration would do,” Cuomo said.

Analysts note that Cuomo’s voter base, which skews older, could be particularly impacted by the extreme heat. Cuomo himself is planning to vote on Tuesday, encouraging others to do the same.

Meanwhile, the former governor received another endorsement over the weekend from former President Bill Clinton.