New York's first Thursday, Andrew Cuomo, against Cynthia Nixon

Governor of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, faces an unexpected major challenge from Cynthia Nixon, an activist and actress who, if elected, would become the first Emmy-winning executive, Grammy and Tony.

Cuomo, son of the famous former New York governor and presidential candidate, Mario Cuomo, is seeking his third term. Nixon exploited a vein of progress that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez win her first win against Rep. Joe Crowley in June. She is also trying to capitalize on fatigue with Cuomo's leadership and corruption in Albany, the state capital. One of Cuomo's former senior advisers was convicted of corruption charges in March, while several other Albany heavyweights have already faced similar charges.

Yet it was not clear that Cuomo, who was at the start of the year at the top of a $ 30 million campaign, would have a serious challenge. Several big-name Democrats sent the main challenge to the governor before Nixon intervened.

Nixon, a loyal ally of New York mayor Bill de Blasio, a rival of Cuomo, launched his campaign in March to repair New York's run-down metro system. Since then, she has moved far to the left, endorsing ideas such as the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes and the abolition of immigration and customs enforcement in the United States. If elected, Nixon would be the first woman elected New York Governor, as well as the state's first LGBT governor.

Yet, despite the enthusiasm for Nixon in some circles and on social media, Cuomo has held important positions against Nixon in the polls. A Siena College survey released last week showed that Cuomo was 41 points ahead of Nixon, 63% to 22%. A survey from Quinnipiac University also revealed that Cuomo had a 36-point lead. But Nixon has been trying to capitalize in recent weeks on a series of Cuomo campaign goofs, for example when the governor said, "America has never been so beautiful" at a rally in the August and quickly backtracked.

Infrastructure issues also continue to invite bad press for Cuomo. The long-awaited Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, an essential means of transportation on the Hudson River, was closed for safety reasons one day after Cuomo cut the ribbon in September. The New York Times reported that Cuomo camp offered entrepreneurs sweeteners to open the bridge in time.

Cuomo and the Democratic Party of the state also took the hot water after the party sent a fake mailer suggesting that Nixon was anti-Semitic. Party chairman Geoff Berman said the mail was a "mistake", but did not say who was responsible for the flyer or if the person was fired. A spokesman for Cuomo declined to say if anyone had approved the shipment before shipping.

"It was not a mistake, it's not a typo," said Nixon in response to "The Brian Lehrer Show" on Tuesday. "Many people have been involved in making this document, in its execution and approval, and we need better answers."

The scandal escalated when a Cuomo campaign official sent an email to a New York Post reporter saying he had evidence that Nixon was supporting the "Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions" movement against Israel. "I can have you register information about it," wrote the manager in the mail. The official then sent text messages to the reporter later in the week, saying, "Hey, I have something for you on [N]ixon … .I'll send you an email. But not me. "

Cuomo's ticket is also likely to be thwarted by insurgent candidates. His running mate, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, faces a major challenge from New York Progressive Councilor Jumaane Williams. Her favorite choice for the Attorney General, New York City Public Attorney Letitia James, is taking place in a four-way primary.

Attorney General Zephyr Teachout, who launched a failed main offer against Cuomo in 2014, was approved by Senator Bernie Sanders, who also supported Williams. Teachout runs on an anti-corruption platform in Albany. The other candidates are Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and former Cuomo Leecia Eve official.

The name of Cuomo is a New York institution. Mario Cuomo played three terms before losing to Republican George Pataki for his fourth goal. But the name of Cuomo could also be a curse for voters seeking to inject new blood into Albany.

None of the Republican candidates in the state office are facing major challenges.

Polling stations open at 6 pm in New York and surrounding counties and open at 12 o'clock. in 49 counties in the north of the state. Polling stations close at 9 pm