In generational shift, Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor's race
NEW YORK − Zohran Mamdani, a young democratic socialist who shot to stardom and shook up Democratic politics, will be the next mayor of New York City.
Less than 40 minutes after the polls closed at 9 p.m. on Nov. 4, the Associated Press and CNN called the race for Mamdani, the Democratic nominee. With 91% of the vote counted, Mamdani had 50.4% of the vote, 9 points of his next closest opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 41.6%. Cuomo ran as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
Mamdani, 34, will be the first Muslim mayor and first Asian American mayor of the nation's largest city. The state lawmaker won after a contentious campaign defined by Democratic infighting over his ambitious proposals and past criticisms of Israel and the NYPD. Billionaires such as former Mayor Mike Bloomberg spent millions on efforts to defeat him.
Mamdani will succeed Eric Adams , whose single term in City Hall was mired in scandal. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who was a distant third, conceded even before the race had been called.
Candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference while campaigning outside a Subway station in New York City, April 1, 2025. Mamdani (D-NY) was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City’s mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket.
An assemblyman from Queens, Mamdani will be the first mayor to hail from that borough, the city's most diverse. His campaign reshaped New York’s electorate, energizing young voters in the Democratic Party's progressive wing and engaging Muslim and South Asian voters often overlooked in local politics.
Mamdani favored, focused on affordability in NYC
Mamdani had led in general election polls since his upset of Cuomo in the June Democratic primary.
Cuomo, 67, had resigned as governor in 2021 amid accuasations of sexual harassment and mishandling nursing homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams also ran as an independent before exiting the race just weeks before Election Day . He later endorsed Cuomo, but Republican radio host Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime group, refused increasingly bitter calls to drop out and help Cuomo consolidate opposition to Mamdani.
Mamdani's platform focused heavily on affordability, with viral videos and tens of thousands of volunteers knocking on doors across the five boroughs.
Mamdani promised to freeze rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments, make buses free, launch city-run grocery stores in each borough, and enact universal child care. He also pushed to increase the minimum wage, build 200,000 new affordable housing units and create a community safety department to shift certain emergency calls, such as mental health crises, away from police.
To achieve his priorities, he has pushed for tax increases on corporations and the city’s wealthiest 1%, but that would require approval from state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has said she opposes raising taxes. Hochul did, however, endorse Mamdani after he won the Democratic nomination.
Washington sets eyes on Mamdani's NYC
Mamdani is a longtime advocate of Palestinian rights and a sharp critic of Israel's conduct in Gaza. He has said he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to uphold international law and a warrant by the International Criminal Court, even though the United States is not a member of the ICC.
Despite accusations that his views on Israel are antisemitic, which he denies, many Jewish voters supported Mamdani since the primary.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries eventually endorsed Mamdani , but New York's two Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand did not.
Before even taking office, Mamdani has already faced attacks from national Republicans , including President Donald Trump , who has falsely described Mamdani as a "communist" and questioned his citizenship. Mamdani, born in Uganda, is a naturalized citizen, and will become New York City's first immigrant mayor since William O’Dwyer, who was elected 80 years ago.
Toward the end, Trump seemed resigned to Mamdani's victory , despite showing support for Adams and Cuomo at points.
Cuomo congratulated Mamdani in his concession speech, but also argued that the winner "makes promises that cannot be met" and his agenda remains unsupported by half the city.
Sliwa also wished Mamdani good luck but warned him, "if you try to implement socialism, if you try to render our police impotent," he and his supporters will be mobilized in opposition.
When he takes office on New Year’s Day, Mamdani will almost certainly face immediate tests by the Trump administration. Trump has already flooded American cities with immigration enforcement agents, stripped billions in federal funds for Democrat-led cities and states, and nationalized the National Guard to patrol American city streets.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor's race, defeating Andrew Cuomo
