Upstart socialist stuns former governor in NYC mayoral primary
NEW YORK: Young self-declared socialist Zohran Mamdani was on the cusp of stunning victory Wednesday in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary – pummeling his scandal-scarred establishment rival in a race seen as a fight for the future of the Democratic Party.
Results were not yet final. But Mamdani – who is just 33 and would become the city's first Muslim mayor – had such a commanding lead that his biggest rival, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, conceded defeat overnight.
Mamdani's success was seen as a rebuke to Democratic centrists who backed the powerful Cuomo, as the party flails nationally in search of a way to counter Republican President Donald Trump's hard-right movement.
The Ugandan-born Mamdani was behind Cuomo in polls until near the end, surging on a message of lower rents, free daycare and other populist ideas in the notoriously expensive US city.
'Tonight we made history,' he said in a victory speech to supporters. New Yorkers 'have stood up for a city they can afford.'
Cuomo, a 67-year-old political veteran vying to come back from a sexual harassment scandal, told supporters: 'Tonight was not our night.'
'I called him, I congratulated him,' he said.
Fragile ceasefire holding, Trump envoy says peace talks with Iran 'promising'
Mamdani had taken 43 percent of the vote with 95 percent of ballots counted, according to city officials. Cuomo was at around 36 percent and appeared to have no chance to catch his rival.
However, the contest is ranked-choice, with voters asked to select five candidates in order of preference.
When no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote outright, election officials start the time consuming process of eliminating the lowest-ranking candidates and retabulating.
Prime Trump target?
Cuomo had big money and near universal name recognition in the city, as a former governor and son of another governor.
However, he was weighed down by having quit in disgrace four years ago after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment. He was also accused of mismanaging the state's response to the Covid pandemic.
Even so, Mamdani's success was stunning.
The son of Indian-origin immigrants, he is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America party – the kind of niche, leftist affiliation that many Democratic leaders believe their party needs to shed.
The fact that Mamdani speaks out for Palestinians and has accused Israel of 'genocide' also makes him a prime target for Trump, a fellow New Yorker.
His supporters include two favorite Trump foils – fiery leftist Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who both congratulated Mamdani.
'Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X.
Sanders posted: 'You took on the political, economic and media Establishment – and you beat them.'
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, called Mamdani 'too extreme for a city already on edge.'
And Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, told New Yorkers 'who are not Communists: Come to Texas!'
Big ideas, low experience
Currently a New York state assemblyman representing the borough of Queens, Mamdani's eye-catching policy proposals include freezing rent for many New Yorkers, free bus service, and universal childcare.
In a city where a three-bedroom apartment can easily cost $6,000 a month, his message struck a chord.
Voter Eamon Harkin, 48, said prices were his 'number one issue.'
'What's at stake is primarily the affordability of New York,' he said.
But Sheryl Stein, who works in tourism marketing, was skeptical.
'I like youth,' she said. But Mamdani having 'no experience and no proven track record to run the largest city in this country and one of the largest in the world is pretty scary.'
The confirmed winner will face several contenders in November, including current Mayor Eric Adams, who is a Democrat but has vowed to run again as an independent.
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Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Upstart socialist stuns former governor in NYC mayoral primary
NEW YORK: Young self-declared socialist Zohran Mamdani was on the cusp of stunning victory Wednesday in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary – pummeling his scandal-scarred establishment rival in a race seen as a fight for the future of the Democratic Party. Results were not yet final. But Mamdani – who is just 33 and would become the city's first Muslim mayor – had such a commanding lead that his biggest rival, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, conceded defeat overnight. Mamdani's success was seen as a rebuke to Democratic centrists who backed the powerful Cuomo, as the party flails nationally in search of a way to counter Republican President Donald Trump's hard-right movement. The Ugandan-born Mamdani was behind Cuomo in polls until near the end, surging on a message of lower rents, free daycare and other populist ideas in the notoriously expensive US city. 'Tonight we made history,' he said in a victory speech to supporters. New Yorkers 'have stood up for a city they can afford.' Cuomo, a 67-year-old political veteran vying to come back from a sexual harassment scandal, told supporters: 'Tonight was not our night.' 'I called him, I congratulated him,' he said. Fragile ceasefire holding, Trump envoy says peace talks with Iran 'promising' Mamdani had taken 43 percent of the vote with 95 percent of ballots counted, according to city officials. Cuomo was at around 36 percent and appeared to have no chance to catch his rival. However, the contest is ranked-choice, with voters asked to select five candidates in order of preference. When no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote outright, election officials start the time consuming process of eliminating the lowest-ranking candidates and retabulating. Prime Trump target? Cuomo had big money and near universal name recognition in the city, as a former governor and son of another governor. However, he was weighed down by having quit in disgrace four years ago after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment. He was also accused of mismanaging the state's response to the Covid pandemic. Even so, Mamdani's success was stunning. The son of Indian-origin immigrants, he is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America party – the kind of niche, leftist affiliation that many Democratic leaders believe their party needs to shed. The fact that Mamdani speaks out for Palestinians and has accused Israel of 'genocide' also makes him a prime target for Trump, a fellow New Yorker. His supporters include two favorite Trump foils – fiery leftist Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who both congratulated Mamdani. 'Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. Sanders posted: 'You took on the political, economic and media Establishment – and you beat them.' Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, called Mamdani 'too extreme for a city already on edge.' And Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, told New Yorkers 'who are not Communists: Come to Texas!' Big ideas, low experience Currently a New York state assemblyman representing the borough of Queens, Mamdani's eye-catching policy proposals include freezing rent for many New Yorkers, free bus service, and universal childcare. In a city where a three-bedroom apartment can easily cost $6,000 a month, his message struck a chord. Voter Eamon Harkin, 48, said prices were his 'number one issue.' 'What's at stake is primarily the affordability of New York,' he said. But Sheryl Stein, who works in tourism marketing, was skeptical. 'I like youth,' she said. But Mamdani having 'no experience and no proven track record to run the largest city in this country and one of the largest in the world is pretty scary.' The confirmed winner will face several contenders in November, including current Mayor Eric Adams, who is a Democrat but has vowed to run again as an independent.
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Mamdani on verge of winning New York City's Democratic mayoral contest after Cuomo concedes
NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, was poised on Tuesday to win New York City's Democratic mayoral primary in a surprising upset over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In brief remarks to supporters, Cuomo, 67, who had been seeking a political comeback four years after resigning amid sexual harassment allegations, said he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. 'Tonight is his night,' Cuomo said while conceding the race to Mamdani. Mamdani, who entered the campaign as a virtual unknown, was ahead of Cuomo 43.5% to 36.4% with nearly 95% of ballot scanners reporting, according to the city's elections board. Nine other Democratic candidates trailed far behind. Mamdani declared victory addressing his supporters. 'Today… with the vision of the city that every New Yorker can afford, we have won,' he said in a speech broadcasted by ABC7 New York TV channel. He promised to reject President Donald Trump's policies and 'to govern our city as a model for the Democratic Party.' The outcome will not be final until next week, due to New York's ranked-choice system that allows citizens to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. But Mamdani's lead in Tuesday's preliminary results appeared too large for Cuomo, or any other candidate, to overcome, particularly since the third-place finisher on Tuesday, City Comptroller Brad Lander, encouraged his supporters to list Mamdani second. The race was seen as an early read on the direction Democrats believe the party should take five months into Republican President Donald Trump's tumultuous second term. Their differences were clear: Cuomo, a moderate backed by the establishment who served a decade as governor, or Mamdani, a progressive newcomer who promised a break with the past. Mamdani will likely be the favorite in November's general election in a city where Democrats dominate. The current mayor, Democrat Eric Adams, will also appear on the November ballot as an independent, but a series of corruption scandals and his perceived ties to Trump have weakened his standing. The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, a radio host best known as the founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol who lost to Adams in 2021. Fragile ceasefire holding, Trump envoy says peace talks with Iran 'promising' For some voters, Mamdani represented a chance to usher in a new era for the party. 'I think it's time for somebody young, a person of color, something different,' Ignacio Tambunting, a 28-year-old actor, told a Reuters reporter outside a polling station in Manhattan after putting Mamdani atop his ballot. Another voter, Leah Johanson, said she listed Mamdani first even though she was concerned he was too liberal. But she did not rank Cuomo. 'No. God, no,' said Johanson, 39, who voted on Tuesday in Queens, where Mamdani lives. 'I'm not gonna vote for a man who is credibly accused of molesting women.' Cuomo has denied the harassment accusations, which he has characterized as ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous. Self-described democratic socialist Born in Uganda to a family of Indian descent, Mamdani, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor, has a history of pro-Palestinian activism. He was elected to a state assembly seat in New York's Queens borough and has garnered the support of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two prominent progressives. Cuomo accused Mamdani of lacking the experience required, while Mamdani attacked Cuomo over the harassment allegations. Cuomo, who emerged as a vocal critic of Trump during his first term as president, won the endorsements of former President Bill Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In ranked voting, the last-place candidate is eliminated after each round, and their votes are redistributed to the second choice marked on the ballots of their supporters. The process is repeated until one candidate achieves 50% of the total. Mamdani seems likely to expand his lead when the additional counts are conducted, after he and Lander endorsed one another and urged their supporters to rank the other as second choice. Lander, who was the first choice on 11.6% of ballots counted on Tuesday, made national headlines last week when he was briefly detained while escorting a defendant out of an immigration court.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
New York set for first Muslim mayor as Mamdani beats Cuomo in primary
Listen to article Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, was poised to win New York City's Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday in a surprising upset over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In brief remarks to supporters, Cuomo, 67, who had been seeking a political comeback four years after resigning amid sexual harassment allegations, said he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. "Tonight is his night," Cuomo said while conceding the race to Mamdani. Mamdani, who entered the campaign as a virtual unknown, was ahead of Cuomo 43.5% to 36.4% with nearly 95% of ballot scanners reporting, according to the city's elections board. Nine other Democratic candidates trailed far behind. In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it's done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City. — Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 25, 2025 The outcome will not be final until next week, due to New York's ranked-choice system that allows citizens to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. But Mamdani's lead in Tuesday's preliminary results appeared too large for Cuomo, or any other candidate, to overcome, particularly since the third-place finisher on Tuesday, City Comptroller Brad Lander, encouraged his supporters to list Mamdani second. The race was seen as an early read on the direction Democrats believe the party should take five months into Republican President Donald Trump's tumultuous second term. Read: Emily Ratajkowski endorses Zohran Mamdani in New York mayoral race Their differences were clear: Cuomo, a moderate backed by the establishment who served a decade as governor, or Mamdani, a progressive newcomer who promised a break with the past. Mamdani will likely be the favorite in November's general election in a city where Democrats dominate. The current mayor, Democrat Eric Adams, will also appear on the November ballot as an independent, but a series of corruption scandals and his perceived ties to Trump have weakened his standing. The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, a radio host best known as the founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol who lost to Adams in 2021. For some voters, Mamdani represented a chance to usher in a new era for the party. "I think it's time for somebody young, a person of color, something different," Ignacio Tambunting, a 28-year-old actor, told a Reuters reporter outside a polling station in Manhattan after putting Mamdani atop his ballot. Another voter, Leah Johanson, said she listed Mamdani first even though she was concerned he was too liberal. But she did not rank Cuomo. "No. God, no," said Johanson, 39, who voted on Tuesday in Queens, where Mamdani lives. "I'm not gonna vote for a man who is credibly accused of molesting women." Cuomo has denied the harassment accusations, which he has characterized as ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous. Read more: Ali Sethi vouches for NY mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani Zohran Mamdani Born in Uganda to a family of Indian descent, Mamdani, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor, has a history of pro-Palestinian activism. He was elected to a state assembly seat in New York's Queens borough and has garnered the support of US Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two prominent progressives. Cuomo accused Mamdani of lacking the experience required, while Mamdani attacked Cuomo over the harassment allegations. Cuomo, who emerged as a vocal critic of Trump during his first term as president, won the endorsements of former President Bill Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In ranked voting, the last-place candidate is eliminated after each round, and their votes are redistributed to the second choice marked on the ballots of their supporters. The process is repeated until one candidate achieves 50% of the total. Mamdani seems likely to expand his lead when the additional counts are conducted, after he and Lander endorsed one another and urged their supporters to rank the other as second choice. Lander, who was the first choice on 11.6% of ballots counted on Tuesday, made national headlines last week when he was briefly detained while escorting a defendant out of an immigration court.
