A 33yo Muslim socialist takes shock victory in NY mayoral campaign
New York | Zohran Mamdani is poised to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City after the 33-year-old democratic socialist forced his opponent Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of the state, to concede within hours after polls closed.
Mamdani, who just months ago was an unfamiliar name to most New Yorkers, racked up commanding leads across Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, even pushing Cuomo close in what was meant to be his stronghold of the Bronx.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Communist lunatic': Donald Trump slams Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral primary win
Donald Trump has unleashed on Zohran Mamdani in the wake of his victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary race, blasting the '100% Communist Lunatic's' politics and looks. Mr Mamdani, a self-declared socialist, pulled off a stunning political upset – pummelling former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a contest seen as a fight for the future of the Democratic Party. The Ugandan-born state assemblyman was behind Mr Cuomo in the polls until near the end, surging on a message of lower rents, universal childcare and free bus services. If elected in November, the 33-year-old would become the first Muslim mayor in New York City's history. According to city officials, Mr Mamdani had taken 43 per cent of the vote with 95 per cent of ballots counted. Mr Cuomo, who was at around 36 per cent, confirmed to supporters he had called his rival and conceded — and appeared to have no chance to catch his rival. Mr Mamdani's triumph was widely celebrated by Democrats and New Yorkers – but not by the US President, who weighed in on the political upset in his former hometown in a series of furious Truth Social posts. 'It's finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line,' Mr Trump wrote. 'Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor. We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. 'He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he's not very smart, he's got AOC+3, Dummies ALL backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, is groveling (sic) over him. Yes, this is a big moment in the History of our Country!' Mr Schumer, who is US Senate minority leader, is Jewish and not of Palestinian heritage. Mr Trump's 'AOC+3' is in reference to the so-called progressive squad in Congress that includes New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In a follow-up post, Mr Trump declared Ms Ocasio-Cortez an 'Low IQ Candidate'. 'Added together with our future Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, and our Country is really SCREWED!,' he declared. Prominent conservative activists, meanwhile, targeted Mr Mamdani's Muslim faith, tying him to 9/11 in a barrage of vile xenophobic attacks. MAGA-aligned social media personality Laura Loomer claimed that 'New York City will be destroyed' and that the city 'is about to see 9/11 2.0'. 'If the Muslim Brotherhood would have been designated as a terrorist org, @ZohranKMamdani could have been prevented from running for office,' Loomer wrote. 'Get ready for Muslims to start committing jihad all over New York.' Conservative activist Charlie Kirk also invoked the September 11 Al-Qaeda attacks. '24 years ago a group of Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11,' he wrote. 'Now a Muslim Socialist is on pace to run New York City.' While Donald Trump Jr declared that 'New York City has fallen'. In the closing days of the race, Mr Mamdani remarked on the countless attacks he'd faced because of his religion. 'I get messages that say, 'The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim',' he said at a press conference. 'I get threats on my life, on the people that I love. And I try not to talk about it.' In his victory speech on Wednesday, Mr Mamdani said: 'Tonight we made history', adding that New Yorkers 'have stood up for a city they can afford'. That Mr Mamdani, the son of Indian immigrants, has also spoken out for Palestinians and accused Israel of 'genocide' in its ongoing assault on Gaza makes him a prime target for the President and the Republican faithful. His success has been seen as a rebuke to Democratic centrists who backed the powerful Mr Cuomo, as the party flails nationally in search of a way to counter the President's hard-right movement. Democrats have struggled to make their case as a credible alternative to Republicans since Kamala Harris's 2024 defeat to Mr Trump — seen in part as repudiation of identity politics and so-called 'woke' ideology. 'It's a political earthquake,' director of the Marist University Institute for Public Opinion, Lee Miringoff, told The New York Post. 'An unknown defeating Andrew Cuomo is a changing of the guard. More Democratic voters are younger, and their views have to be taken into account.' Democratic consultant Trip Yang described it to The New York Times as 'the biggest upset in modern New York City history'. 'The race shows Democratic voters are growing tired of the same old faces and they're willing to bet on newcomers,' said political strategist Andrew Koneschusky, a top former Democratic Senate aide. 'Looking ahead, we may see more competitive Democratic primaries and more upsets like this. That's bad news for establishment Democrats, but can be good for the party overall.'
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
‘Communist Lunatic': Trump, Wall Street billionaires rattled by shock New York result
'I cannot promise that you will always agree with me,' Mamdani said. 'But I will never hide from you.' At the heart of his success was a social media campaign — populist economic proposals and progressive cultural ideas packaged in slick videos designed to go viral. Just on Tuesday, he appeared in an Instagram video with Emily Ratajkowski, who has over 29 million followers on the platform. The model and actress wore a 'Hot Girls for Zohran' t-shirt and urged voters to go to the polls. It was typical of the savvy and hustle that helped Mamdani amass an army of tens of thousands of volunteers, who relentlessly knocked on doors, stood on street corners and posted on social media to exhort voters. They evangelised his policies: Free childcare, cheaper groceries at government-owned stores, free bus rides, a rent freeze and more — much of it paid for with tax hikes on the rich. Not mentioned: Those tax increases would need approval from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who has said she is opposed to the idea. Mamdani also wants to raise $US70 billion ($107.5 billion) in debt, another effort that has little chance of succeeding. Panic sets in Still, in the moneyed corridors of Manhattan, wild forecasts of doom are taking hold. Wall Street headhunter Michael Nelson said the mood is grim among clients who typically make more than $US1 million a year. 'This will be the end of New York City as we know it' is how his deep-pocketed clients are reacting to the prospect of Mamdani winning in November, he said. Already, stocks of companies tied to New York City real estate are getting hit. Flagstar Financial, a lender to apartment buildings, dropped as much as 6.7 per cent on Wednesday before closing 3.9 per cent lower. Corporate landlords Empire State Realty, SL Green Realty and Vornado Realty all fell. The city's elite had backed Cuomo, a member of the Democratic old guard who was considered the favourite in the race even in its final days. At 67, he was the oldest candidate in the race and pitched himself as a seasoned moderate who can manage New York's problems — from crime in the subways to a universally acknowledged affordability crisis. Billionaires including Michael R. Bloomberg as well as Bill Ackman, Loeb and Vornado's Steven Roth supported his campaign. Cuomo's PAC, Fix the City, raised nearly $US25 million — an unheard of sum in a primary race for mayor. But many of the ads backing him focused on painting Mamdani as a bad choice for the city, rather than laying out Cuomo's own vision for governance. The former New York governor, who stepped down from that job following a string of sexual harassment allegations that he denies, didn't just have money on his side. Stalwart figures of the Democratic establishment such as former President Bill Clinton endorsed him. Mamdani, meanwhile, was backed by progressive stars like Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. There are signs that at least some on Wall Street might be warming to the democratic socialist candidate. 'While we might disagree on certain issues, we should always be hopeful that Mamdani — if he ends up being elected mayor — can unite the city to address its critical education, public safety, housing and economic development needs,' said Ralph Schlosstein, former head of Evercore and a longtime Democrat. But so far that sentiment is limited. Ackman, another longtime Democrat before he became one of President Donald Trump's most-vocal supporters, blasted Mamdani by claiming that his policies would bankrupt New York. The investor didn't respond to a request for comment on the results of the election. Rich Farley, a veteran Wall Street lawyer, said many of the city's wealthy are likely to see the November general election as a make-or-break moment. Should Mamdani prevail, 'the folks who can easily unplug and move elsewhere are going to think very seriously about plans to do that.' Ahead of that race, ultra-wealthy donors have to decide if and how they will oppose Mamdani. Cuomo, who has signalled he may run as an independent, has to persuade backers that he is a more viable candidate outside of the closed Democratic primary system. If he stays in the race, he will compete against the Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and current mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent and didn't take part in the primary after a corruption scandal. But others on Wall Street may choose a more radical option. Loading 'I've already talked to hedge fund guys who have told me they have got a foot out the door,' said Eric Rosen, a former senior JPMorgan trader and hedge fund executive. 'I left New York City 8 years ago because I didn't like the way the city was being run,' he said. 'I sold my Park Ave. co-op and it's now down 25 per cent and my house in Florida is up 250 per cent. The market has spoken.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Communist Lunatic': Trump, Wall Street billionaires rattled by shock New York result
'I cannot promise that you will always agree with me,' Mamdani said. 'But I will never hide from you.' At the heart of his success was a social media campaign — populist economic proposals and progressive cultural ideas packaged in slick videos designed to go viral. Just on Tuesday, he appeared in an Instagram video with Emily Ratajkowski, who has over 29 million followers on the platform. The model and actress wore a 'Hot Girls for Zohran' t-shirt and urged voters to go to the polls. It was typical of the savvy and hustle that helped Mamdani amass an army of tens of thousands of volunteers, who relentlessly knocked on doors, stood on street corners and posted on social media to exhort voters. They evangelised his policies: Free childcare, cheaper groceries at government-owned stores, free bus rides, a rent freeze and more — much of it paid for with tax hikes on the rich. Not mentioned: Those tax increases would need approval from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who has said she is opposed to the idea. Mamdani also wants to raise $US70 billion ($107.5 billion) in debt, another effort that has little chance of succeeding. Panic sets in Still, in the moneyed corridors of Manhattan, wild forecasts of doom are taking hold. Wall Street headhunter Michael Nelson said the mood is grim among clients who typically make more than $US1 million a year. 'This will be the end of New York City as we know it' is how his deep-pocketed clients are reacting to the prospect of Mamdani winning in November, he said. Already, stocks of companies tied to New York City real estate are getting hit. Flagstar Financial, a lender to apartment buildings, dropped as much as 6.7 per cent on Wednesday before closing 3.9 per cent lower. Corporate landlords Empire State Realty, SL Green Realty and Vornado Realty all fell. The city's elite had backed Cuomo, a member of the Democratic old guard who was considered the favourite in the race even in its final days. At 67, he was the oldest candidate in the race and pitched himself as a seasoned moderate who can manage New York's problems — from crime in the subways to a universally acknowledged affordability crisis. Billionaires including Michael R. Bloomberg as well as Bill Ackman, Loeb and Vornado's Steven Roth supported his campaign. Cuomo's PAC, Fix the City, raised nearly $US25 million — an unheard of sum in a primary race for mayor. But many of the ads backing him focused on painting Mamdani as a bad choice for the city, rather than laying out Cuomo's own vision for governance. The former New York governor, who stepped down from that job following a string of sexual harassment allegations that he denies, didn't just have money on his side. Stalwart figures of the Democratic establishment such as former President Bill Clinton endorsed him. Mamdani, meanwhile, was backed by progressive stars like Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. There are signs that at least some on Wall Street might be warming to the democratic socialist candidate. 'While we might disagree on certain issues, we should always be hopeful that Mamdani — if he ends up being elected mayor — can unite the city to address its critical education, public safety, housing and economic development needs,' said Ralph Schlosstein, former head of Evercore and a longtime Democrat. But so far that sentiment is limited. Ackman, another longtime Democrat before he became one of President Donald Trump's most-vocal supporters, blasted Mamdani by claiming that his policies would bankrupt New York. The investor didn't respond to a request for comment on the results of the election. Rich Farley, a veteran Wall Street lawyer, said many of the city's wealthy are likely to see the November general election as a make-or-break moment. Should Mamdani prevail, 'the folks who can easily unplug and move elsewhere are going to think very seriously about plans to do that.' Ahead of that race, ultra-wealthy donors have to decide if and how they will oppose Mamdani. Cuomo, who has signalled he may run as an independent, has to persuade backers that he is a more viable candidate outside of the closed Democratic primary system. If he stays in the race, he will compete against the Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and current mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent and didn't take part in the primary after a corruption scandal. But others on Wall Street may choose a more radical option. Loading 'I've already talked to hedge fund guys who have told me they have got a foot out the door,' said Eric Rosen, a former senior JPMorgan trader and hedge fund executive. 'I left New York City 8 years ago because I didn't like the way the city was being run,' he said. 'I sold my Park Ave. co-op and it's now down 25 per cent and my house in Florida is up 250 per cent. The market has spoken.'
