Zohran Mamdani Elected New York City Mayor in Stunning Victory Over Andrew Cuomo

Zohran Mamdani was elected the next mayor of New York City on Tuesday night, according to projections called around 10 p.m. ET, following a heated race against former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

The Associated Press, Fox News, and NBC News all projected Mamdani’s victory shortly after polls closed. With roughly 80% of votes counted, Mamdani led with 50.6% to Cuomo’s 41.2%. He will succeed Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the race in September.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblymember from Queens, entered the general election as the favorite after winning the ranked-choice Democratic primary by 12 points earlier this year. His victory makes him New York’s first Muslim and first socialist mayor, and the youngest to hold the office in over a century. The election marks a dramatic shift in the city’s political landscape and reflects deep divisions within the Democratic Party.

Addressing supporters after his win was declared, Mamdani declared, “The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few.”

He took a direct shot at the president, saying, “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”

In his speech, Mamdani sought to present himself as a unifying figure. He told cheering supporters that his administration would represent “a city government for everyone,” especially minorities and the under-represented. He even used an Arabic phrase, “Ana minkum wa ilaykum,” meaning “I am of you and for you” to stress solidarity with the city’s diverse communities.

In regard to Jews of the city, Mamdani pledged to stand “steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers” and “not waiver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism.” He also said Muslim New Yorkers “will know that they belong not just in the five boroughs of this city, but in the halls of power.” Looking ahead to his inauguration, he added, “When we enter City Hall in 58 days, expectations will be high. We will meet them.”

Cuomo conceded shortly after the race was called, calling his campaign “the right fight to wage.” Standing with his family and aides, he told supporters, “I’m proud of what we did and we did together.” When his audience booed at his mention of Mamdani, he quickly rebuked them: “That is not right, that is not us. Tonight was their night.”

President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, posting “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” as Mamdani’s speech aired live. Trump had repeatedly labeled Mamdani a “communist” during the campaign and warned he might cut federal funding if Mamdani won.

Progressives, meanwhile, praised the victory. Senator Bernie Sanders called it “one of the great political upsets in modern American history.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was seen celebrating at Mamdani’s packed watch party. The New York Democratic Socialists of America wrote on Instagram, “The job’s not done… We’re going to mobilize our historic volunteer army to win Zohran’s agenda and elect working-class champions at every level of government.”

Jewish groups reacted with concern. Sarah Forman, Executive Director of the New York Solidarity Network, said, “Tonight the quiet normalization of antisemitism just got very loud. For years, Mayor-elect Mamdani’s activism was steeped in coded language about Jews, performative boycotts, exclusion, and overt hostility toward Israel. Now, his views gain a platform with real consequences for the city that is home to the largest Jewish community in the diaspora.”

The UJA-Federation of New York issued a statement acknowledging the results but warning that “the Mayor-elect holds core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions and most cherished values.” It said the organization “will hold all elected officials, including Mayor-elect Mamdani, fully accountable for ensuring that New York remains a place where Jewish life and support for Israel are protected and can thrive.”

From Jerusalem, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon posted on X, “Mamdani’s inflammatory remarks will not deter us. The Jewish community in New York and across the United States deserves safety and respect. We will continue to strengthen our ties with Jewish community leaders to ensure their security and well-being.”

Mamdani will take office in 58 days. His transition team is expected to form in the coming week as supporters celebrate a historic political breakthrough, and opponents brace for a test of how the mayor will govern a deeply divided city.