New Yorkers made history on Tuesday by electing Zohran Mamdani as the city's first socialist mayor. The far-left Democrat celebrated his landmark victory as a clear mandate for his ambitious, progressive agenda — one that could significantly impact the city's budget — while also taking aim at President Trump in his victory remarks.
The Associated Press and NY1 declared 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani the winner about 40 minutes after polls closed at 9 p.m., sparking loud cheers and celebration among his supporters gathered at his campaign watch party in Brooklyn. Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a race that quickly turned into a major flashpoint in national politics.
Clear Winner
"New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city that we can afford and a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that," he said.
"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," Mamdani said in the 20-minute address. "I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in his private life but that [will be] the final time I utter his name."
Mamdani took a jab at Trump during his victory speech, drawing loud cheers from the excited crowd.
"So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up," he said with a grin.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, carried 50.4% of the votes to independent candidate Andrew Cuomo's 42% as of midnight, with nearly all precincts reporting. Republican Curtis Sliwa finished a distant third with just 7.1%, according to the city's Board of Elections.
Born in Uganda, Mamdani is set to make history as New York City's first Muslim, first South Asian, and first socialist mayor — as well as one of the youngest ever elected. He celebrated his win with a video on social media showing subway doors sliding open, captioned with a triumphant message: "Next stop, City Hall."
The state assemblyman's unexpected rise from a dark-horse candidate focused on affordability to mayor-elect came despite questions about his youth, inexperience, and his "tax the rich" proposals, which some business leaders warned could hurt the city.
Mamdani, a committed member of the Democratic Socialists of America, also faced scrutiny over his past anti-police statements and accusations of antisemitism stemming from his long-running criticism of Israel.
His remarkable victory capped a heated campaign that exposed deep divides within the Democratic Party and drew attention nationwide — including from Trump, who had endorsed Cuomo the day before the election and warned he might withhold federal funding if Mamdani won.
"...AND SO IT BEGINS!" Trump wrote on Truth Social as Mamdani delivered his victory speech.
New in New York
The high-stakes election drew a remarkable turnout, with around 2 million New Yorkers casting their ballots — the largest since 1969, according to preliminary results. Mamdani looked set to secure at least 50% of the vote, giving him a strong claim to a mandate from the city's majority.
But former three-term Democratic Governor Cuomo, who spent $12 million of his own funds and benefited from $55 million from supportive super PACs, stressed that the voices of the New Yorkers who didn't vote for Mamdani shouldn't be overlooked.
"This campaign was the right fight to wage," he said in his concession speech. "It's also important to note that almost half of New Yorkers did vote to support a government agenda that makes promises that we know cannot be met."
Cuomo's defeat ended his hopes of a political comeback following his resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal. Supporters began leaving his campaign watch party at Manhattan's Ziegfeld Ballroom even before he took the stage. At the same time, those who stayed chanted "shame on Sliwa," referencing the Guardian Angels founder's perceived spoiler role in the race.
Sliwa conceded around 9:20 p.m., visibly emotional as results showed him failing to reach even 10% of the vote, and used his concession to deliver a pointed warning about socialism.
"Let me warn the new leader, if you try to implement socialism, if you try to render our police weak and impotent, if you forsake the people's public safety, we're not only organizing, but we are mobilizing," he said.
The win also sparked concern among some Jewish activists, who worried about having a mayor known for his strong criticism of Israel.
"New Yorkers have spoken . . . We recognize that voters are animated by a range of issues, but we cannot ignore that the Mayor-elect holds core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community's deepest convictions and most cherished values," the prominent UJA Federation said in a statement.
This rare election marked New York City's first three-way race with genuinely competitive candidates since 1969, when Republican John Lindsay won in a similar contest.
