Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned with Gov. Kathy Hochul for the first time Friday. He hopes to help the moderate Democrat win over his left-wing voters in New York City, with less than 10 days to go before Election Day.

One day later, city voters came out in big numbers. The Board of Elections counted 86,215 voters at early voting sites across the five boroughs on Saturday, the first day of early voting. That is 73% more than the 49,709 who voted on the first day in 2022, the last race for governor.

Brooklyn, where the two campaigned, almost doubled its 2022 number. 23,296 people voted in the borough on the first day, up from 12,688 four years ago. That is an 84% jump. Only Manhattan, with 24,704, had more. The numbers are not yet official.

The two stopped at McCarren Park in Williamsburg, where they also took a few questions from reporters.

Hochul seems to have a big lead over her Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman.

She said as she walked through the park that she was "grateful" for the "energy and excitement" the mayor is bringing to her campaign. But she didn't give him too much credit.

"Have you checked the polls lately?" Hochul replied when asked if she could win without Mamdani. "I think we're doing well."

A Quinnipiac poll out Wednesday had the governor ahead by 14 points, 55% to 41% among likely voters.

Early voting goes until Sunday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office