Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the 111th mayor of New York City, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, and making history as the city’s first Muslim mayor.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assembly member from Queens, secured more than 50% of the vote. Cuomo, 67, followed with just over 40%, while Sliwa received slightly more than 7%.
His election marked a strong showing for Democrats nationwide, including wins in Virginia and New Jersey, and a major redistricting victory in California. At Mamdani’s election night celebration at the Brooklyn Paramount, supporters erupted into cheers and embraced one another as the race was called.
Mamdani is also the first South Asian to serve as mayor of New York City and the youngest to take office in over a century. His rise has been rapid — when he launched his campaign last fall, he was a relatively little-known lawmaker. His platform focused on affordability and social reform, including freezing rents on stabilized units, expanding affordable housing, raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour, free public buses, and higher taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
Backed by a grassroots network of small donors, tens of thousands of volunteers, and a strong digital presence, Mamdani quickly built momentum. His decisive primary victory over Cuomo in June, winning by nearly 13 points, signaled a major shift in the city’s politics and energized young and first-time voters.
Following his primary defeat, Cuomo remained in the race as an independent, attempting a political comeback after resigning as governor in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations, which he denies. But polling consistently showed Mamdani maintaining a comfortable lead over his rivals.
The campaign saw heated debates over crime, policing, Israel’s war in Gaza, housing, and relations with a potential second Trump administration. Mamdani drew national progressive support, endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with prominent New York Democrats including Jerry Nadler, Letitia James, Kathy Hochul, and eventually Hakeem Jeffries. However, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand notably withheld endorsements.
Mamdani also endured intense scrutiny and attacks, particularly regarding his age, experience, and criticism of Israeli government policy. Islamophobic smears circulated throughout the campaign — including comments amplified by Republican lawmakers and conservative media — which Mamdani condemned as racist and dangerous.
Trump, who labeled Mamdani a “radical” and “communist,” endorsed Cuomo at the last minute and warned that federal funding to New York would be limited if Mamdani won. Billionaire Elon Musk also urged support for Cuomo.
Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani immigrated to New York at age seven and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. This summer, Trump even suggested revoking his citizenship — a threat Mamdani called an attack on democracy and on all immigrant New Yorkers who dare to speak up.
Despite such hostility, Mamdani’s campaign inspired a wave of progressive political engagement across the country, with thousands expressing interest in running for office.
As news of his victory spread, Mamdani posted a video on X of subway doors sliding open and a voice announcing: “The next and last stop is City Hall.”
