New York City’s general election lacks a runoff, so multiple non-left challengers trap each other in a prisoner's dilemma: staying in preserves their small chance but practically ensures a 36–37% plurality win for the socialist frontrunner. Strong, targeted GOTV can then beat a larger but fragmented electorate. Primary RCV without general‑election RCV creates an asymmetry that rewards cohesive blocs over broad but uncoordinated opposition.
— It shows how election design, not just ideology, decides control of major cities and suggests reforms or explicit coordination are needed to avoid minority‑plurality governance.
Jack Santucci
2025.10.14
45% relevant
Both pieces show how electoral system design shapes real outcomes: the cited idea treats plurality/RCV rules as structuring who wins, while this article shows STV/PR can still fail without majority coalitions—extending the 'rules matter' frame from election results to governing capacity.
Nicole Gelinas
2025.10.05
92% relevant
New York’s general election lacks a runoff and multiple anti‑Mamdani candidates (Andrew Cuomo on a third‑party line, Curtis Sliwa, plus Eric Adams remaining on the ballot despite withdrawing) split the opposition vote, making a plurality win by Zohran Mamdani likely—exactly the dynamic described in this idea.
2025.09.03
95% relevant
The piece argues Mamdani likely wins if Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa all stay in, because NYC’s general election lacks a runoff—creating a prisoner's dilemma where fragmented opposition enables a 36–37% plurality victory.
John Ketcham
2025.09.01
100% relevant
American Pulse polls (Mamdani ~37%, Cuomo ~25%, Adams ~11%, Sliwa ~17%), DSA registering 37,000 voters in two weeks, and three viable challengers refusing to drop out in a no‑runoff general.