New York City Nears Milestone: First Muslim Mayor Possible
New York City is holding a major Democratic primary today that could reshape its political future—voters may move one step closer to electing the city's first-ever Muslim mayor.
The two frontrunners are former governor Andrew Cuomo, making a comeback bid, and Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member and self-described democratic socialist born in Uganda.
Middle East Conflict Adds Tension to Local Race
The election isn't just about local issues. It comes days after U.S. airstrikes on Iran, and tensions in Gaza remain high—topics that have unexpectedly defined the primary race.
Cuomo has voiced strong support for Israel, while Mamdani has publicly condemned military action in Gaza and criticized the U.S. role in regional conflicts. Their opposing views have turned the race into a reflection of New Yorkers' divided opinions on global politics.
Ranked-Choice Voting Could Shake Up Results
Polls have previously shown Cuomo in the lead. But a new Emerson College survey suggests that Mamdani could pull off a win under the city's ranked-choice voting system, which redistributes votes from lower-ranking candidates until one emerges with a majority.
That could give Mamdani, despite his limited experience, a chance at an upset—especially with his campaign focusing on rent freezes, universal child care, and bold social programs funded by government borrowing.
Andrew Cuomo is afraid he'll lose, so his donors want you to fear me.
His SuperPAC just sent out a mailer that artificially lengthened and darkened my beard.
This is blatant Islamophobia—the kind of racism that explains why MAGA billionaires support his campaign. pic.twitter.com/5nqWKnbKy9
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 12, 2025
Race Gets Personal as Campaigns Heat Up
Tensions between the candidates have also gone personal. Mamdani recently accused a pro-Cuomo political group of altering his image in a campaign photo to make his beard appear longer and darker, calling the move Islamophobic.
What's Next
Whoever wins today will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in November. Adams won in 2021 as a Democrat but is now running as an independent. In a city that leans heavily Democratic, today's winner could likely take the mayor's seat in the general election.
The result of this primary could not only mark a historic milestone for representation—but also reshape how New York tackles both local and global challenges.
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Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
New Yorkers see path for broad political shift through Zohran Mamdani's win
When news broke on Tuesday that former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who was thought to be a favourite in the New York City mayoral primary, had conceded the race, the announcement was met with disbelief. The idea that an underdog pro-Palestinian Democratic Socialist state lawmaker had secured the Democratic nomination seemed too good to be true for Zohran Mamdani's supporters, after being smeared as an antisemite and "communist" by some of the most powerful politicians in the US. On Wednesday, after Mamdani's victory, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about the election, saying that "the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatics, has just won the Dem Primary, is on his way to becoming Mayor. We've had Radical Leftists before, but this is getting a little ridiculous". Naaila*, 33, a Mamdani supporter and physician assistant, had been curbing her hopes to avoid eventual disappointment. She attended a packed Democratic Socialists of America's (DSA) watch party at the Boyfriend Co-op in Bushwick, a neighbourhood in Brooklyn, where she said the news was met with both joy and disbelief. 'There was a rumour that Cuomo conceded. Everyone was frantically checking their phones. When the DSA organisers called it, I still didn't believe it. I was checking my phone to see for myself. Then the reality dissipated through the crowd. People started cheering and screaming,' Naaila told Middle East Eye. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters She said the victory brought her to tears and was particularly meaningful because of the current situation in Palestine and the fact that it was two decades on from 9/11. 'You have to question whether you are allowed to be vocally Muslim, immigrant and socialist in public, and can even be eligible for mayor. Everything about this race felt like a referendum on diversity, on people power against the billionaires and super PAC funding, and Islamophobia'. 'It makes me so proud to be an immigrant, a New Yorker, a Muslim, and to be in the Palestinian movement.' Despite resigning from politics in 2021 over allegations of sexually harassing women, Cuomo had been tipped to win the race. This was largely believed to be because of his name recognition - his father, Mario Cuomo, is also a former New York governor - and because he had the financial backing of the largest super PAC ever created in the NYC mayoral campaign, which raised $25m for him. Mamdani, on the other hand, was the underdog. A former housing counsellor and current state assemblyman, he ran a bold grassroots campaign premised on helping all New Yorkers with three central pledges: affordable housing through rent freezes and increasing rent-stabilised housing; free buses and free childcare. His career to date has focused on helping working-class people. With 95 percent of ballots counted, Mamdani leads former governor Andrew Cuomo 43 percent to 36 percent in the Democratic primary, propelled by a wave of grassroots support and a bold left-wing platform. The final count is expected to come through in the next few days. Hope for a broader trend Most people MEE spoke to on Wednesday were surprised by Mamdani's win and excited about the prospect of political change. 'I was a little surprised, honestly. I didn't think he was going to win. I was hopeful he would. He ran a very strong campaign where he was able to get amongst the people, especially the youth. I'm super excited about where we're going next," Billy Summers, a 27-year-old from Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, told MEE. 'A Muslim, brown man as mayor of New York City is indicative of a broader change in the US political climate.' Nia*, a 22-year-old server from Prospect Heights, who voted for Mamdani, said, 'I am really proud of my city for pulling through. I think it was about time for us to vote for someone who actually cares about representing the city and people." Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani fends off hate as he inspires New Yorkers Read More » She believes Israel's war on Gaza is one of the reasons that led to his win, and said that Mamdani's responses in the mayoral debate and handling of questions on Israel and his commitment to standing with New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers, made her want to stand with him. 'I think we're finally realising that the government is supposed to represent us, the people, and that we actually do have the power to change things. We just have to utilise the people and come together. I think this mayoral race showed us we can turn things around, and I hope after this, New York will.' Mawahib* is a first-generation Somali who also lives in Prospect Heights and voted for Mamdani. She said she voted for him because of his plans to freeze rent. She said that people who have lived in NYC for decades have been dealing with rent increases, and supporting communities is really important to her. She was with her flatmate on Wednesday night when the election results came through and said she was 'super hyped and elated' by the results. 'I was incredibly hopeful [Mamdani would win] because a lot of my friends who are transplants registered to vote, so I was really, really excited,' she added. The New York City general mayoral election is scheduled for 4 November, with the Democrats favoured to win. Incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who stood on a Democratic ticket, is due to stand as an Independent in the forthcoming election, but his popularity is at an all-time low. It is unclear whether Cuomo will run as an Independent.
UAE Moments
3 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Zohran Mamdani Wins New York Mayoral Primary
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary after beating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a landslide with the first round of voting. Mamdani announced the news in a tweet on X on Wednesday, June 25, saying, "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 honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City." According to The Associated Press news agency, experts say that Mamdani will surpass the 50 percent threshold because of his strategic alliances with other candidates to support each other as a 'second place' candidate. If Mamdani is elected as mayor, he would be the first of Asian heritage and the first Muslim mayor. Mamdani is the son of the award-winning film director, Mira Nair, and the Columbia University professor, Mahmood Mamdani. This article was previously published on kuwaitmoments. To see the original article, click here
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Trump announces new talks with Iran as hopes rise for Gaza truce
The US will re-enter talks with Iran next week after a ceasefire with Israel that also raises the prospects of peace in Gaza, President Donald Trump has said. Speaking at a Nato summit, Mr Trump said Iran is "not going to be building bombs for a long time" after US attacks, as mystery surrounded the fate of Iran's nuclear materials. He compared the US strikes to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended the Second World War. A truce continued to hold after Israel and Iran halted a 12-day air war, their worst ever direct conflict. If Israel "does not take any aggressive actions, Iran will not react either,' an Iranian government official told The National. Hamas meanwhile said Gaza ceasefire talks 'intensified in recent hours' with the participation of mediators from Egypt and Qatar. Mr Trump said "great progress" was being made to end the Israel-Hamas war, and said his special envoy Steve Witkoff had told him "Gaza is very close." He linked his optimism about imminent "very good news" for Gaza to the ceasefire agreed on Tuesday between Israel and Iran. "It helped a little, and sowed a lot of power," he said. "I think this helped." Mr Trump said the "war is done" after the US dropped "bunker-buster" bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites early on Sunday. Iran responded by launching missiles at an American air base in Qatar, in an attack widely condemned in the Arab world. "We're going to talk to them next week with Iran. We may sign an agreement, I don't know," said Mr Trump. "The way I look at it, they fought, the war is done. 'I don't want to use an example of Hiroshima. I don't want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing — that ended a war." The bombing raid ordered by Mr Trump hit the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran, which is suspected by the US and Israel of secretly developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies this, insisting it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. Tehran will re-enter nuclear talks only if the US offers clear aims and takes steps to rebuild trust, current and former Iranian officials said. Five rounds of meetings failed to produce a deal on curbing Iran's activities, before Israel attacked Iran almost a fortnight ago. "We need to see whether the opposing sides will enter in good faith or not,' an analyst in Tehran who is close to the Iranian government told The National. 'The opposing side must prove that it is reliable this time with confidence-building measures,' the analyst said. 'We will wait until there is good faith and a new initiative.' Iran was believed to have a stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium before the air war broke out. The whereabouts of its nuclear materials are now unclear, amid speculation it could have moved them before the US bombing. Mr Trump maintained on Wednesday that "there was obliteration" but conceded that early US intelligence findings were inconclusive. "It could've been very severe. That's what the intelligence suggests," he said. Iran said only that its nuclear sites were "badly damaged" in the bombing raids. Israeli strikes also killed nuclear scientists and several senior military commanders in Iran, as well as hitting symbols of government power in Tehran. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran informed him it had taken "precautionary measures" regarding its uranium stockpile. He said: 'There is rubble, there could be unexploded ordnance, there are not normal inspections.' A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office said the strike on Fordow "destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable". Israel said it assessed that the strikes had set back Iran's nuclear programme 'by many years'. Mr Netanyahu is now coming under pressure from some quarters in Israeli politics to follow the Iran truce with a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Sources reported that top Hamas officials, including Khalil Al Hayah, Zaher Jabareen, and Nazar Awadallah, have been holding talks with Egyptian officials since they arrived in Cairo on Monday. A lone mid-level Israeli negotiator was also in Cairo, while a senior team from Israel's Mossad spy agency was expected later in the week, but only if the chances of making progress in the talks improve, according to the sources. They told The National that the proposals on the table to pause the war and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza were not different from those discussed in previous rounds, and which mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US could not get Hamas and Israel to agree to. Life was returning to normal after the war. Israel has mostly lifted restrictions on schools and public gatherings put in place by a home front command. Iranian authorities announced the gradual easing of internet restrictions. "The communication network is gradually returning to its previous state," said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' cyber security command in a statement carried by state media. Hezbollah meanwhile lauded what it described as Iran's 'divine victory' over Israel in the 12-day war. The Lebanese armed group and political party said Iran's attacks 'shattered the aura of [Israel's] defence systems' and marked a 'new historical stage' in the region. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, condemning Iran's attack on Qatar and reaffirming Cairo's support for "the sovereignty of Arab and Islamic states". According to a statement from Egypt's presidency, Mr El Sisi welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, emphasising the need to "stabilise and uphold the agreement" to prevent escalation in the region.
