In a landmark victory that has reshaped New York City politics, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the city’s mayoral race on Tuesday, becoming the first Muslim and first person of South Asian and African descent to lead America’s largest city.
According to CBS, Mamdani secured 1,035,645 votes (50.4%), defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who received 854,783 votes (41.6%), while Republican Curtis Sliwa finished third with 146,127 votes (7.1%). The result marks a stunning political upset, ending Cuomo’s decades-long influence and ushering in a new generation of progressive leadership.
Mamdani’s victory is more than a personal milestone — it’s a defining political moment for a city long dominated by establishment politics. The campaign became a battle of ideology and identity, pitting Mamdani’s progressive, grassroots movement against Cuomo’s centrist legacy.
Former President Donald Trump intervened in the final days of the race, attacking Mamdani as a “Jew hater” and “communist threat” while endorsing Cuomo. Trump even warned he would withhold federal funding if Mamdani won. In his victory address, Mamdani fired back:
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater, Mamdani celebrated a victory built on hope, organizing, and inclusion.
“Hope is alive,” he declared.
“We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to believe that the impossible could be made possible. We won because we insisted that politics would no longer be something done to us — it would be something we do.”
Quoting the American socialist Eugene Debs, Mamdani said, “The sun may have set over our city this evening, but I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.”
“Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.”
With 90 percent of the vote counted, Mamdani held a nine-point lead over Cuomo — a commanding margin that reflected strong support across all five boroughs. His campaign focused on affordable housing, universal childcare, and public transit reform. He pledged to freeze rent increases for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments, provide universal childcare, and make buses fast and free.
“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change — a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford.”
Thousands of supporters wearing yellow campaign caps and shirts cheered as Mamdani thanked his volunteers.
“This city is your city,” he told them. “And this democracy is yours too.”
Born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani immigrated to the United States at the age of seven and became a naturalized American citizen in 2018. His rise from community organizer to mayor is now seen as one of the most remarkable immigrant success stories in modern U.S. politics.
Reflecting on his journey, he said:
“The conventional wisdom would say I’m far from the perfect candidate. I’m young, I’m Muslim, I’m a democratic socialist — and I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
He vowed to build an inclusive government that represents all New Yorkers.
“We will stand steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers,” he said, “and ensure that more than one million Muslims know they belong — not just in this city, but in its halls of power.”
Mamdani also extended an olive branch to his opponent, saying:
“I wish Governor Cuomo the best in private life. We have toppled a political dynasty, but let tonight be the last time I utter his name as we turn the page.”
As confetti filled the air and the crowd chanted “Zohran! Zohran!”, Mamdani ended his speech with a message of optimism:
“Tonight we have spoken in a clear voice. Hope is alive.”
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