Image attribution: Bingjiefu He, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral race. He defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. The Associated Press reports that Mamdani received 50.4% of the vote with 75% of ballots counted. Cuomo stood at 41.6%. AP called the race at 9:34 p.m.
The city saw its highest voter turnout since 1969. More than 2 million votes were cast.
Mamdani, 34, becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor and one of its youngest mayors ever. The Washington Examiner notes that less than a year ago, he was largely unknown in national politics. Now he enters City Hall on a platform built on freezing rent, free childcare, and government-run grocery stores.
He arrived at his victory party in Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater to cheering supporters. Many wore Democratic Socialists of America gear and chanted his name. Mamdani said he would not apologize for his views. “I am Muslim. I am a Democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this,” he told the crowd.
He said voters delivered a “mandate for change.” He also promised a “city we can afford” and a government that reflects those priorities.
Cuomo’s loss shuts down any hopes of a political comeback. His scandals and failed primary bid made it impossible for him to regain power. Mamdani claimed his movement had “toppled a political dynasty.”
Breitbart reporting noted that national figures jumped into the race during the final days. President Donald Trump urged New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo, not Sliwa. He warned that voting Republican would split the vote and hand the race to Mamdani. Trump also said he would limit federal funding to New York if Mamdani won.
Cuomo said Trump was not supporting him personally. He argued that Trump simply wanted to stop Mamdani.
Conservative critics raised alarms about Mamdani’s agenda. They warned that tax increases, anti-police policies, and economic changes would drive people out of New York. Former RNC chairman Michael Whatley said Mamdani could “run New York into the dirt.” Rep. Mike Lawler said his platform would damage public safety and the city’s economy.
Mamdani faced backlash during the campaign. He refused to directly answer on Fox News whether Hamas should lay down its weapons. Actor Michael Rapaport responded by calling him “so full of f*cking sh*t” during an interview.
In his victory speech, Mamdani attacked Trump directly. He said the president had “betrayed” the country and that New York would resist federal pressure. “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up,” Mamdani said. The crowd cheered as he vowed that Trump would have to “get through all of us” before harming New Yorkers.
The vote signals a sharp turn to the left. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams focused heavily on public safety. Mamdani is taking the city in the opposite direction.
He tried to soften his image in the final months of the campaign. He met with business leaders and moderates who were originally against him. Supporters say that effort helped ease concerns.
Mamdani closed the night standing with his family on stage. Supporters waved signs and celebrated the moment. He told them the city “belongs to you.”
He will take office under immediate national attention. His plans for housing, childcare, immigration, and policing will face major scrutiny. Critics say those policies will carry a heavy cost. Supporters say he represents a new era for New York.