Voters are today casting ballots in U.S. state and local elections in the first major polls since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.    

The New York race is a showdown between former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo and 34-year-old progressive Zohran Mamdani,  a Democratic socialist hoping to make history as the city's first Muslim mayor.

Mr Trump has been a dominant force in the race, endorsing Mr Cuomo's and threatening to cut federal funds if Mr Mamdani wins.

• Guest: Ben Max, Program Director and Executive Editor of the NY Law School's Center for New York City & State Law, and host of the Max Politics podcast
• Producer: Brooke Young