There are multiple other candidates running but the rank choice voting here is what is causing the binary issue.
It’s not creating a binary issue, it simply arrives at a consensus faster without requiring a runoff while allowing voters to vote for who they want. Mamdani has been working to secure endorsements from opponents and has succeeded with a few of them.
Then people are forced to vote on practical reasons instead of their actual beliefs. RCV allows a fuller expression of our country’s many viewpoints without unnecessarily constraining it to a two party system.
That’s how people here justified their vote for Trump. No thanks. Edit to add: And that’s solely how I justified my vote for Biden. Again, no thanks.
Unlikely for a first election using it, but it will take a few voting cycles to get the concept fully going where you’re free to vote as your #1 candidate the person that most closely reflects your viewpoint, ethics, etc.
RCV would have likely made Bernie the Democratic Nominee in '20. I think the idea of having to pick the person to your side that you think can win, results in better options. Getting Trump was an anomaly in '16 due to overly large Republican field.
Cuomo has already said Mamdani won. Seems premature but the third place candidate endorsed Mamdani prior to the election so you’d think a lot of his votes would go to Mamdani. Zohran Mamdani 428,995 +43.5%43.5% Ranked-choice tallies expected next Tuesday if necessary. Andrew M. Cuomo 358,740 +36.4%36.4 Brad Lander 111,944 +11.4%11.4