NEW YORK — In a campaign marked by sharp elbows and fervent passion, Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday night, solidifying his position as a democratic socialist and a polarizing figure within the Democratic Party’s ranks.
For the Republican Party and former President Donald Trump, Mamdani’s win presents a prime opportunity to showcase a caricature of their opposition as out-of-touch leftists ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
According to nearly finalized results from the New York City Board of Elections, Mamdani secured just over 50 percent of the vote, a decisive enough outcome to overcome former Governor Andrew Cuomo. In a bitter general election campaign, Cuomo, who had previously lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, ran as an independent and managed to garner Trump’s support in a last-ditch effort.
When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, Mamdani will not only make history as the city’s first Muslim mayor but will also join the ranks of David Dinkins as only the second mayor in modern history to self-identify as a democratic socialist. He enters City Hall buoyed by a robust coalition of volunteers, influential labor unions, and broad backing from the state’s Democratic establishment, all as he sets out to implement an ambitious agenda that will demand significant concessions from Albany.
However, the deep fault lines exposed during the campaign are unlikely to simply vanish. His victory was heavily supported by younger, left-leaning voters eager for his affordability-focused message, while Republicans, moderates, and older Democrats, particularly those concerned about Mamdani’s views on Israel, rallied behind Cuomo. How the newly elected mayor navigates these complex divisions, while simultaneously countering expected challenges from Trump and fulfilling his lofty campaign promises, will undoubtedly shape his administration’s narrative.
Despite the looming challenges, Mamdani took the stage at a Brooklyn concert venue amid a sea of jubilant supporters.
“Friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” he proclaimed to an eruption of applause.
In his victory speech, Mamdani emphasized the plight of New Yorkers laboring in low-wage jobs, promising increased support from his administration. “Fingers bruised from lifting boxes on the warehouse floor, palms calloused from delivery handlebars, knuckles scarred from kitchen burns,” he articulated. “These are not hands that have been allowed to hold power, and yet, over the last 12 months, you have dared to reach for something greater. Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it.”
In a playful jab at his former opponent, Mamdani quoted Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, while accusing the independent candidate’s campaign of resorting to Islamophobia. “While we cast our ballots alone, we chose hope together,” he reiterated. “Hope over tyranny, hope over big money and small ideas, hope over despair.”
Characterizing his election as a step toward defeating Trump, whom he labeled a despot, Mamdani told the former president, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” triggering roars from the crowd. He framed his victory as a pathway for Democrats to reclaim political influence from the Republican Party.
“If tonight teaches us anything, it is that convention has held us back,” he declared. “We have bowed at the altar of caution, and we have paid a mighty price. Too many working people cannot recognize themselves in our party. And too many among us have turned to the right for answers to why they have been left behind.”
Earlier that evening, Cuomo, flanked by his daughters at a subdued election party in Midtown Manhattan, conceded defeat to Mamdani for the second time in under five months. “This campaign was to contest the philosophies that are shaping the Democratic Party, the future of this city, and the future of this country,” he noted. “And this coalition transcended normal partisan politics, bringing together Democrats, Republicans, and independents, united by their allegiance to New York City.”
Cuomo highlighted that almost half of New Yorkers did not vote for Mamdani and stressed the importance of public safety and combating antisemitism. He admonished his supporters when they booed Mamdani’s name, insisting on civility.
While many at Cuomo’s headquarters blamed GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa for siphoning votes, a closer look at the vote count indicated that even had Sliwa withdrawn, it likely wouldn’t have shifted enough votes to secure a Cuomo victory.
Current Mayor Eric Adams congratulated Mamdani via a social media video, signaling preparations for a smooth transition come January.
With election night behind him, the 34-year-old mayor-elect has a mere two months to assemble a transition committee and lay the groundwork for a government that will face significant hurdles from Day One. In addition to Trump’s threats of deploying the National Guard and withholding funds from the city, Mamdani will need to advocate in Albany for several key proposals, including free public transportation and universal childcare. He has even floated the idea of revisiting mayoral control of the public school system, a contentious issue that is bound to complicate negotiations with state lawmakers.
Despite his historic win, Mamdani’s candidacy raised eyebrows among some party leaders. State Attorney General Letitia James heralded his victory as a sign of awakening: “A sleeping giant has arisen,” she declared, while asserting that “the politics of fear and hate never work.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders have extended their support to Mamdani, yet whether they will be ready to commit the billions required to implement his ambitious plans remains uncertain. Hochul has consistently stated that she will not raise taxes on high-income earners.
Mamdani’s vision includes establishing a Department of Community Safety to handle mental health emergencies independently of the NYPD—a significant restructuring of city governance that will be no small feat. His team has already begun rallying support from the City Council to lay the foundation.
Additionally, Mamdani aims to persuade the Rent Guidelines Board to freeze rent prices for stabilized units next year, although the current mayor may attempt to alter the board’s composition to undercut his plans.
While the power of New York City mayors may seem limited to the five boroughs, this election has served as a bellwether for broader divisions within the Democratic Party. Mamdani’s emphasis on economic issues and his ability to galvanize young voters could serve as a template for Democrats struggling to reclaim ground in Washington, currently under Republican control.
Nevertheless, the reluctance of key figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to fully embrace Mamdani, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to remain neutral, hints that many within the party view the democratic socialist as too far left to attract moderate voters. This skepticism raises concerns that his tenure could ultimately be a liability for Democrats in the contentious House races looming next year.
Mamdani’s journey to this victory began as an underdog story.
Last fall, initial polls placed him in the single digits, as many observers predicted an inevitable Cuomo resurgence following his resignation amidst sexual harassment allegations—a cloud he continues to deny. Even Mamdani himself harbored doubts about his campaign’s viability, initially viewing it more as a means to promote the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that ultimately played a crucial role in his success.
By spring, however, Mamdani began to distinguish himself as the only candidate truly closing the gap with Cuomo. City Comptroller Brad Lander entered the race with a strong progressive background but faltered by shifting toward the center, alienating his leftist base without attracting moderates. Lander’s predecessor, Scott Stringer, attempted a comeback but lacked the support he once enjoyed.
Adams, the incumbent, inadvertently paved the way for Mamdani by stepping down from the Democratic primary amidst a sea of scandals, which left him vulnerable to challengers. His departure allowed Mamdani to rise from relative obscurity to a formidable contender.
While Cuomo adopted a low-profile, “Rose Garden” strategy, avoiding the press and leaning on his extensive governmental experience, Mamdani was mobilizing an enthusiastic base. His campaign revolved around straightforward, populist promises: rent freezes, free public transportation, and universal childcare. Through astute social media strategies and a committed team of canvassers inspired by the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani effectively communicated his vision directly to voters.
By maintaining a focus on economic issues when affordability was atop voters’ priority lists, Mamdani managed to navigate the pitfalls that ensnared other leftist candidates in more moderate areas. To fund his initiatives, he aims to persuade Governor Hochul to raise taxes, a potentially contentious move as she faces re-election challenges from the right.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani faced a barrage of inquiries regarding his perceived inexperience and his past criticisms of the NYPD, as well as his statements on Israel. Yet, these concerns failed to derail his momentum, culminating in a stunning primary victory on June 24 that forced Cuomo to concede before the night was over.
The coalition that propelled Mamdani to victory proved historic, drawing significant support from progressive enclaves in Brownstone Brooklyn and the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront, as well as from South Asian voters who typically do not participate in mayoral elections.
Yet, despite his promises to uplift working people, Mamdani struggled to gain traction with low-income residents and Black voters during the primary, a dynamic that allowed Cuomo to re-emerge as a challenger when he ran as an independent in the general election. The rematch unfolded with little change in polling numbers but escalating negative rhetoric, as Mamdani accused Cuomo of Islamophobia while Cuomo targeted Mamdani’s rhetoric and lack of experience.
As the campaign progressed, Mamdani gradually garnered support from across the Democratic spectrum, in part by moderating some of his earlier positions and expressing a willingness to maintain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. With establishment Democrats off the table, Cuomo turned his focus on siphoning votes from GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, who resisted calls to withdraw from the race. Last-minute endorsements from Trump and other influential figures aimed to bolster Cuomo’s campaign but ultimately proved futile, as election returns later confirmed.
In the general election, Mamdani adeptly sidestepped pointed inquiries regarding his stances on contentious issues like decriminalizing prostitution and his views on police handling of protests. With few undecided voters left, his lead remained intact as the election drew near.
The race dynamics were stark in the final days, with Cuomo rallying in Queens alongside Jewish community leaders concerned about Mamdani’s ascent, while Mamdani shared a stage with heavyweights like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to an electrified crowd of 10,000—a rare display of energy and enthusiasm for a mayoral campaign.
“I should like to have it said of our campaign that, in it, the forces of selfishness and lust for power met their match,” Mamdani told his supporters. “And I should like to have it said of our City Hall that, in it, these forces met their master.”
