NEW YORKFollowing Andrew Cuomo’s shocking upset loss in Tuesday night’s Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, Zohran Mamdani declared victory. The youthful, progressive upstart, who was essentially unknown at the start of the race, gained a significant lead over the more seasoned but scandal-plagued former governor.
Mamdani made a strong stance just after the voting closed, but a ranked choice count will still determine the race’s final result.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who conducted a vigorous campaign focused on the expense of living, declared to supporters, “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City,” with victory all but guaranteed.
Whether you voted for Governor Cuomo, for me, or because you were too demoralized by a long-broken political system to cast a ballot, I will be the mayor for all New Yorkers, he declared. I’ll put in the effort to become a mayor you can be proud to call home.
Cuomo surrendered the election, informing a throng that he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. Cuomo had been the front-runner throughout the race, which was his attempt to emerge from a sexual harassment controversy.
It’s his night tonight. He was worthy. Cuomo informed supporters that he had won.
In the first choice ballots, Cuomo was far behind Mamdani, and when ballots were redistributed in the ranked choice voting system in New York City, he had an extremely challenging route to catch up.
If elected, Mamdani, who has served in the state Assembly since 2021, would become the first Indian American and Muslim mayor of the city. Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor, did not attend the primary. He is a candidate for the general election as an independent. Cuomo might possibly run for office in the general election.
Cuomo stated, “We’re going to look at it and make some decisions.”
With one candidate being a young progressive and the other an older moderate, Cuomo and Mamdani may have served as metaphors for the ideological split within the Democratic Party.
Cuomo described the city as a dangerous, unruly place in dire need of a capable leader who could bring order back. He entered the election with the influence of a political dynasty, garnering a wide range of support from significant labor organizations and local leaders while political action committees established to aid his candidacy raised an astounding amount of money.
Mamdani, on the other hand, presented a positive message that his platform, which was centered on the notion that a mayor has the authority to take actions that reduce the cost of living, could improve city life. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, two of the nation’s leading progressives, endorsed him, and the party’s progressive side united behind him.
According to the New York City Board of Elections’ unofficial results, Mamdani appeared on more ballots than Cuomo. Tens of thousands more voters chose Mamdani than Cuomo as their second option. Additionally, there will undoubtedly be fewer votes that count toward ranked choice voting. According to the Board of Elections data, almost 200,000 voters only selected a first choice, suggesting that Mamdani’s performance in the first round would eventually be sufficient to reach the 50% threshold.
The final result of the contest may reveal something about the type of leader Democrats want in President Donald Trump’s second term.
Adams, a Democrat who chose to run as an independent in the wake of public outcry over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent drop of the prosecution by Trump’s Justice Department, will be the next opponent for the primary winner. The Guardian Angels’ creator, Republican Curtis Sliwa, will be running in the general election this fall.
In a contest where almost all of the contenders have positioned themselves as the most qualified to oppose Trump’s policies, the other contenders have found it difficult to garner attention.
Liberal municipal government mainstay Comptroller Brad Lander made headlines last week when he was jailed for having ties to a guy federal officials were attempting to detain at a Manhattan immigration court. In an effort to increase their combined support and harm Cuomo’s bid under the ranked choice voting method, Lander and Mamdani cross-endorsed each other in the last weeks of the contest.
Other contenders include former city comptroller Scott Stringer, hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson, state senator Zellnor Myrie, and city council speaker Adrienne Adams.
It has been difficult to ignore Mamdani’s grassroots campaign.
In search of support, his army of young canvassers tirelessly knocked on people’s doors all throughout the city. Shop windows displayed posters of his smiling mug. On social media, it would be impossible to avoid watching one of his polished films promoting his ideas of free buses, free childcare, new housing, a higher minimum wage, and more—all of which would be funded by additional taxes on the wealthy.
On a sweltering summer day, that youthful enthusiasm was evident Tuesday evening as jubilant supporters and cautiously optimistic canvassers lined the streets of Central Brooklyn, generating a party vibe that extended from polling places into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Amani Kojo, a 23-year-old first-time voter, encouraged Mamdani canvassers to stay hydrated by giving them iced drink outside his family’s Caribbean pharmacy.
There’s a mood, and it’s 100 degrees outdoors. Raising a stack of Mamdani brochures, Kojo remarked, “New York City feels alive again.” Seeing all the people, flyers, and postings on my Instagram throughout the day makes me feel really excited.
Some Democrats, including Cuomo, have portrayed Mamdani as unfit. They claim that he lacks the managerial skills necessary to deal with crises or the city’s extensive bureaucracy. Mamdani’s advocacy for Palestinian human rights has also drawn criticism.
Mamdani has responded by criticizing Cuomo for his management of the COVID-19 outbreak and his sexual harassment controversy.
After a study ordered by the state attorney general found that Cuomore had sexually assaulted at least 11 women, he resigned in 2021. He has consistently insisted that he didn’t mean to harass the women, claiming that he had just slipped behind the standards of proper behavior at work.
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This report was written by Jake Offenhartz of the Associated Press.
