Zohran Mamdani officially secures New York City mayor nomination after historic win
Mr Mamdani secured 56 per cent of votes in the third round of the ranked-choice system, where over 50 per cent is required for a winner. His triumph over veteran politician Andrew Cuomo, a moderate who garnered 44 per cent in the final tally, marks a significant shift in the city's political landscape. Mamdani reflected on his win in a video on X, stating: "We have always thought our victory would come after multiple rounds of ranked-choice voting. When we got more votes in the first round than Eric Adams got in the seven rounds in the last election, it was astonishing."
As the Democratic nominee, Mr Mamdani will now face a diverse field of opponents in the general election. These include current mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent candidate following his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent decision by the Department of Justice to drop the case. Also in the race are Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol, and independent attorney Jim Walden.
Mamdani's unexpected victory has, however, caused unease among some Democrats, who worry that his progressive political views could make them a convenient target for Republican attacks. The day after his win, Donald Trump labelled him a "100% Communist Lunatic," while the Republican party's congressional campaign arm vowed to link him to every vulnerable Democrat in next year's midterm elections.
Addressing the criticism, Mr Mamdani stated his objective was "to win people back to the Democratic party." He highlighted his success in some New York City neighbourhoods that voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election last year, suggesting a broader appeal for his platform.
When asked how he would handle Mr Mamdani if he were to win the mayoral election and attempt to block immigrant arrests, Donald Trump responded: "Well then, we'll have to arrest him. Look, we don't need a communist in this country. But if we have one I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation." Mr Mamdani has previously criticised immigrant raids, describing them as "terrorizing people" and asserting that agents carrying them out "have no interest in following the law."
While Andrew Cuomo, the defeated primary candidate, has not publicly stated whether he will enter the race as an independent, Mr Mamdani's confirmed nomination sets the stage for a contentious mayoral contest. His ascent from a lesser-known state assembly member to the Democratic party's standard-bearer underscores a significant moment for progressive politics in New York City.
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