Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim of South Asian descent, delivered a political upset by defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor on Tuesday, positioning himself to make history as the city’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor.
If elected in November, Mamdani, currently a state assemblyman, would be the first person from his background to lead the United States' largest city.
As the vote tally unfolded, Mamdani took to social media early Wednesday, quoting Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.”
Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 following a sexual harassment scandal, publicly conceded the race and praised Mamdani at a Manhattan event. “Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night, and he put together a great campaign,” Cuomo said. “And he touched young people, and inspired them, and moved them, and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign.”
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Mamdani’s apparent victory is being seen by analysts as a signal of deeper shifts within the Democratic Party, still reeling from defeats in the 2024 presidential and Congressional elections.
How Mamdani took the lead
In the initial round of ranked-choice voting during the June 24 Democratic primary, Mamdani led with 43.5% of the vote—nearly 432,000 ballots cast—followed by Cuomo with 36.4%, or 361,800 votes. Comptroller Brad Lander finished third with 11.3%, while the remaining votes were distributed among other candidates.
As no contender secured over 50% of the first-choice votes, New York’s ranked-choice system came into play, eliminating lower-ranked candidates and reallocating votes based on second-choice preferences.
Mamdani gained significant support from Lander’s voter base and other progressives, propelling him toward the majority threshold. While the final certified results are pending, Cuomo’s concession makes Mamdani’s win all but certain.
An unexpected result
Mamdani's rise surprised many political observers. Leading up to the primary, most polls suggested Cuomo was the favourite, though they acknowledged Mamdani's growing support.
A Marist Poll from June 18 showed Cuomo ahead with 38% of first-choice votes to Mamdani’s 27%. The same survey predicted Cuomo would eventually win with 55% after ranked-choice rounds.
Similarly, a May poll by Emerson College gave Cuomo 37% and Mamdani just 17%. An April Siena/AARP poll had Cuomo even further ahead, with 39% compared to Mamdani’s 15%.
Cuomo’s widespread name recognition, substantial campaign funds, and political lineage—his father Mario Cuomo also served as New York’s governor—appeared to give him the advantage. His campaign dominated TV ads and mailers across the city.
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But Mamdani's grassroots campaign, powered by volunteers, small donations, and a surge in young voter turnout, proved decisive. His appeal resonated with working-class New Yorkers, especially in Queens, Brooklyn, and parts of Manhattan.
Cuomo and other critics argued Mamdani lacked the administrative skills for the complex mayoral role. Tuesday’s outcome showed voters disagreed.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani, a self-identified Democratic Socialist, is the son of renowned Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. Born in Kampala, he moved to New York at age seven and later earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine.
Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor assisting low-income families facing eviction. In 2020, he won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing Astoria, Queens.
Earlier this year, he married Rama Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian artist whose work has appeared in outlets such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE.
Mamdani’s key proposals
Mamdani has campaigned on an ambitious progressive agenda focused on wealth redistribution, expanded public services, and social reform.
He has pledged to make all city buses free by 2027, citing pilot programs that increased ridership and reduced assaults on drivers.
Housing is central to his platform, with plans for a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments, stronger tenant protections, and the creation of a Social Housing Development Agency to build publicly owned, permanently affordable homes.
Mamdani has also proposed opening a city-run grocery store in every borough to ensure affordable, healthy food in underserved communities. His policies include expanding free meal programs to city colleges and introducing universal childcare and early education.
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To fund these initiatives, Mamdani plans to raise the corporate tax rate from 7.25% to 11.5% and implement a 2% surcharge on individuals earning over $1 million annually, projecting $9.4 billion in revenue.
On public safety, Mamdani advocates reallocating resources from the NYPD to a new Department of Community Safety, staffed by mental health professionals and crisis responders.
The road ahead
New York City’s general mayoral election is scheduled for November 4, with Mamdani set to face Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who previously lost the 2021 mayoral race.
Once the primary results are finalized, Mamdani will officially become the Democratic nominee—a significant advantage in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than six to one.
The last Republican to win the NYC mayoral race was Michael Bloomberg in 2001, who later became an Independent during his second term.
Mamdani is now the overwhelming favourite to become New York City’s next mayor.
Source: With inputs from Al Jazeera