In a stunning upset, Assembly member Zohran Mamdani declared victory Tuesday night in New York City’s mayoral Democratic primary, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who conceded after early results showed Mamdani with a significant lead.

While the final outcome will be decided through the city’s ranked choice voting system, Mamdani took a commanding position just hours after polls closed, leading by a wide margin in first-choice ballots and racking up far more second-choice rankings than Cuomo.

“I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City,” said Mamdani, 33, addressing jubilant supporters in Central Brooklyn. “I will be the mayor for every New Yorker whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned to vote at all.”

Cuomo, once the race’s front-runner, conceded in a subdued speech, telling supporters he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won,” Cuomo said.

Mamdani’s likely win marks a turning point for New York’s political landscape. A democratic socialist and first-term state legislator, he ran a grassroots campaign focused on affordability, public services, and economic justice. If elected in November, he would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor.

The incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, is running as an independent after skipping the Democratic primary. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, will also be on the general election ballot.

Cuomo, attempting a political comeback after resigning in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, ran on a law-and-order platform, promising to restore safety and stability. He drew substantial backing from labor groups and local political elites, aided by well-funded political action committees.

But Mamdani’s energetic campaign caught fire with younger voters. Backed by progressive heavyweights Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, he promised free buses, universal child care, affordable housing, and a higher minimum wage funded by taxes on the wealthy. His campaign drew an army of young canvassers and a flood of online support.

“It’s 100 degrees outside and it’s a vibe,” said Amani Kojo, a 23-year-old voter handing out iced tea to volunteers. “New York City feels alive again.”

Despite criticism from Cuomo and others who questioned his experience and positions on international issues like Palestinian rights, Mamdani countered by highlighting Cuomo’s tainted record on sexual misconduct and COVID-19 nursing home deaths.

Cuomo, while conceding, left open the possibility of running in the general election, saying, “We are going to take a look and make some decisions.”

Mamdani’s surge could signal the direction Democrats may take as they prepare for a future shaped by President Donald Trump’s second term. His unexpected primary win illustrates a growing hunger among urban voters for bold, progressive leadership and a rejection of political nostalgia.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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