Crystal Dike
Zohran Mamdani, 34, won New York City’s mayoral election on Tuesday, November 5, in a historic victory that rallied young voters and signaled a shift in the Democratic Party’s direction.
The Ugandan-born Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, to become the youngest person in more than a century to lead America’s largest city.
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” Zohran Mamdani told supporters during his victory speech Tuesday night, calling his win a “mandate for change” and “a mandate for a city we can afford.”
A self-described democratic socialist, Zohran Mamdani made affordability the core of his campaign, promising to expand social programs funded by new taxes on high earners and corporations.
According to projections from BBC partner CBS, Zohran Mamdani secured 50.3% of the vote, compared with Cuomo’s 41.6%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailed with just over 7% and later conceded, saying, “We have a mayor-elect. If he does well, we do well.”
Cuomo also conceded and congratulated Zohran Mamdani amid boos from his supporters. “That is not right,” he said, urging unity. “Our city is the greatest city in the world, and we will unite for New York City because we love New York City.”
The victory of Zohran Mamdani is historic — he becomes the first South Asian and Muslim to lead New York City. “For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and well-connected that power does not belong in their hands,” he said. “The future is in our hands.”
However, Zohran Mamdani’s win has drawn sharp criticism from national Republicans. President Donald Trump had warned before Election Day that he might withhold federal funds from New York if Zohran Mamdani — whom he labeled a communist — won.
On Tuesday night, House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, calling Zohran Mamdani’s election proof of “the Democrat Party’s transformation into a radical, big-government socialist party.”
Despite skepticism about his lack of executive experience and the feasibility of his ambitious social agenda, Zohran Mamdani’s campaign surged online earlier this year, transforming him from a relatively unknown state assemblyman into a national figure.
His rise — from hip-hop artist and housing counselor to the helm of a city with a $116 billion budget — has stunned observers.
Democrats also scored other victories Tuesday night. Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively, while California voters approved a proposition to redraw congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
Zohran Mamdani’s victory, however, presents a new challenge for the Democratic establishment, which largely withheld endorsements. Business leaders and centrist Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — did not back him, warning of potential clashes with the business community.
Still, Zohran Mamdani’s win marks a new chapter in New York politics — and, as Zohran Mamdani declared on election night, “a new age for the people of this city.”