New York, Nov 05 (V7N) – Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist and state assemblyman from Queens, has won the New York City mayoral election, marking a historic upset in local politics. Major outlets including the Associated Press, NBC News, and CNN called the race for Mamdani at around 9:30 p.m., as his closest opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, trailed behind.

Mamdani, who entered the race with just 1% in the polls, ran a campaign focused on addressing the city’s cost of living. His platform included bold progressive proposals such as a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, free public buses, and universal child care, funded by taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents. Despite facing millions of dollars in attack ads funded by local billionaires, Mamdani maintained strong grassroots support.

Cuomo, 67, a figure from a long-established Democratic political dynasty, was widely regarded as unbeatable until Mamdani defeated him in the Democratic primary in June. Following the primary, Cuomo ran as an independent in the general election, and the campaign centered on debates over Mamdani’s proposals and his prior criticisms of Israel and the New York City Police Department.

Mamdani’s candidacy also drew criticism from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, who accused the Ugandan-born Muslim politician of supporting terrorism—claims echoed by Cuomo, who had received Trump’s endorsement.

Political consultant Suri Kasirer described Mamdani’s victory as a “change election,” noting the record voter turnout and the candidate’s strong grassroots organizing.

Mamdani is set to take office on January 1, replacing the current Mayor Eric Adams. Analysts note he will face significant challenges, including potential federal funding threats from the Trump administration and the need to secure state approval for his proposed tax and spending policies.

At his election night party in Midtown Manhattan, Cuomo praised the campaign’s record voter turnout, which reached 42%, and celebrated the effort of his team. Addressing his audience, he said, “This campaign was the right fight to wage,” but was met with boos when he congratulated Mamdani. Cuomo emphasized law and order, stating, “We are a nation of laws and we believe in law and order, and we need the police to keep society safe. We will not make the NYPD the enemy.”

He concluded, “New York City heard us, and we will be the better for it,” while signaling skepticism about Mamdani’s ability to fulfill all campaign promises.

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