Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the 111th mayor of New York City, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in a closely watched contest. The 34-year-old Democratic nominee, a state assembly member from Queens, secured more than half of the vote, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first South Asian mayor, and the youngest to hold the office in over a century.
Cuomo, 67, finished second with just over 40 per cent, while Sliwa received slightly more than 7 per cent. The result was announced on Tuesday evening, prompting celebrations at Mamdani’s election night gathering at the Brooklyn Paramount, where supporters cheered as the Associated Press called the race.
Mamdani’s victory came amid a series of Democratic successes across the United States. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger was elected as the state’s first female governor, while in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill defeated her Trump-backed opponent. In California, voters approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting initiative, expected to deliver five additional congressional seats to the Democrats.
Mamdani, who launched his campaign last autumn as a relatively unknown lawmaker, built momentum through a grassroots movement powered by small donations, tens of thousands of volunteers, and a strong social media presence. His platform included freezing rents on rent-stabilised units, expanding affordable housing, raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour, making buses free, and increasing taxes on the wealthiest residents.
In June, he defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary by nearly 13 points, a result that surprised much of the city’s political establishment. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment, chose to remain in the race as an independent candidate but was unable to overcome Mamdani’s sustained lead in the polls.
The campaign was marked by sharp exchanges between Mamdani and Cuomo, particularly during the October debates, where the candidates clashed over crime, policing, housing, transport, and foreign policy. Mamdani accused Cuomo of serving corporate interests, while Cuomo dismissed his opponent as inexperienced.
Mamdani’s candidacy attracted national attention and endorsements from prominent progressives, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Other New York leaders, such as Representative Jerry Nadler, Attorney General Letitia James, and Governor Kathy Hochul, also offered their support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Mamdani less than two weeks before election day. However, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand notably withheld endorsements.
The campaign was not without controversy. Mamdani faced Islamophobic attacks from political opponents and conservative commentators. He also came under criticism for his outspoken support of Palestinian rights and his criticism of Israeli government policies, which strained relations with some Jewish groups.
President Donald Trump entered the race late, endorsing Cuomo and warning that a Mamdani victory would jeopardise federal funding for New York. Billionaire Elon Musk also urged voters to back Cuomo. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda to Indian parents and became a US citizen in 2018, dismissed such attacks as attempts to undermine democracy.
Despite the hostility, Mamdani’s campaign inspired progressives across the country, with reports suggesting that more than 10,000 people were considering running for office after his example.
Following the announcement of his victory, Mamdani posted a video on social media showing New York subway doors opening, accompanied by the conductor’s words: “The next and last stop is city hall.”
