Latest news with #MamdaniVictory
CNN
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Mamdani's election night coalition: A party with Kal Penn, Ella Emhoff, hundreds of passionate and sweaty supporters
The moment Andrew Cuomo said he had called Zohran Mamdani to concede the race, Kal Penn stopped mid-sentence. The actor and activist is also a family friend who has known Mamdani since he was 14, and he was speechless. The crowd at Mamdani's Election Night party wasn't. The shot of Cuomo waving goodbye as he left the stage had everyone in the room screaming as loud as they could — in disbelief, in victory, in schadenfreude. Cuomo, a 67-year-old titan of state and local politics, had just conceded the Democratic primary for New York City mayor to Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist running his first major campaign. Mamdani is poised to win the primary pending ranked-choice vote allocation. There were many race-specific factors that made an upset possible: Cuomo is still reviled by many progressives four years after his resignation as governor, and for all his pining for redemption, Cuomo took Tuesday so much for granted that he didn't even campaign on the final day beyond casting a vote for himself. But a look inside Mamdani's sweat-soaked outdoor party on the roof deck of a craft brewery offered hints of the Democratic Party's direction as it works to regroup after President Donald Trump's second victory. Mamdani supporters mingled for hours near a waiting podium topped by a hand-painted 'Afford to Live & Afford to Dream' banner, complete with a custom-inked 'paid for by zohranfornyc' at the bottom. In the crowd were well-known Cuomo enemies like Cynthia Nixon, the 'Sex and the City' actress who ran against him in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor. The then-governor touted his large win as confirmation that New Yorkers agreed with him more than the left wing of the party. On Tuesday, Nixon walked in with her wife and immediately was grabbing other supporters in deep, long hugs. 'What are we going to do when we don't have Cuomo to fight?' one joked to her. Nixon told CNN the feeling of watching this win was overwhelming. 'I have never simultaneously been so excited for anyone, and vote against anyone,' Nixon said. 'Usually it's one or the other, but this was like a meeting of heaven and hell.' Soon Nixon was in a tight circle with Chi Ossé, a queer city councilman elected from Brooklyn four years ago at age 23, who has been busting through city politics with viral videos of his own and who was an early and avid Mamdani backer, as well as Ella Emhoff, the artist stepdaughter of former Vice President Kamala Harris who has become a Brooklyn fixture. Emhoff had a blue-and-yellow Mamdani bandana tied in her hair above her round glasses. Mamdani's primary night party, just like his whole campaign, did not necessarily anticipate the candidate would end up doing this well. There wasn't enough space, enough water or enough air conditioning. It was in a spot usually for beers with a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline in the rapidly gentrifying area of Long Island City, Queens. The next big event being advertised there is a candle-making class this weekend. Mamdani's mostly young staffers were still rushing to get the venue set up half an hour after the polls closed but that didn't matter much as the results became clear and politicians across the city started packing in. Some told CNN that they hadn't been Mamdani supporters initially and hadn't even ranked him first on their ballots. Brad Lander, the city comptroller who had been the race's early progressive favorite but couldn't compete with Mamdani's charisma and eventually became his cross-endorsing validator, arrived to the second-biggest cheers of the night and responded with an awkward 'raise the roof' motion. Afterward, speaking to CNN, Lander tried to explain the excitement for Mamdani. 'I don't think the line is so much between progressives and moderates, it's between fighters and fakers,' Lander said. 'What Zohran is showing is that it's worth putting up big bold ideas for change, standing up and fighting for them, and that's pretty hopeful. Yes, he's a democratic socialist, but he had a bold vision for the future of the city and that excited people.' By the time Mamdani was ready to take the stage, former Rep. Jamaal Bowman had grabbed Penn in a bear hug so big he lifted the actor off the ground. David Hogg, whose brief time as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee blew up earlier this month over his pushing of younger challengers to incumbents, found a spot to the side of the rooftop, pleased that his PAC had endorsed Mamdani last week in the primary and that he didn't have to clear it through the party structure. Mamdani's campaign manager, Elle Bisgaard-Church, started her introductory speech by thanking the Democratic Socialists of America, with the crowd chanting 'DSA! DSA!' The campaign, she said, 'has been run by the left and organized to win.' New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who was one of Mamdani's early endorsers, told the crowd the 'campaign has shocked the world — but everyone in this room knew we were going to do it.' Left unmentioned were the many people in the room who just a few weeks before had been resigned to a Cuomo win, and just a few hours before had been bracing for a rocky few days of ranked-choice tabulation and legal challenges. Some supporters were also already telling CNN that they believe Mamdani's campaign must quickly get even more ambitious and develop a stronger management structure as he goes before a citywide electorate that in November will choose between Mamdani, current Mayor Eric Adams, locally famous Republican Curtis Sliwa, an independent candidate Jim Walden and possibly Cuomo if he decides to keep running on the separate ballot line he already secured. 'We have to build out the tent, and they're prepared to do that – but it needs to be in a more aggressive way,' said Murad Awawdeh, the president of the New York Immigration Coalition, who said he believes Mamdani's 40,000 volunteers could have hit millions more voters if organized differently. 'The campaign needs to think about that (as) they continue moving forward in hitting the ground running as if we're still at the same level as yesterday.' Bowman told New York State Rep. Khaleel Anderson that he figured moneyed interests in the city 'will do anything' to stop Mamdani, even spending $100 million and try to recruit someone like Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson as a candidate. (There's no evidence that the Rock is running.) In an interview on the streets of Brooklyn last month, Mamdani told CNN that the proof he is ready to run a city of 8 million with a $112 billion budget is the campaign he put together. At the microphone, Mamdani spoke about his campaign as a model for the Democratic Party and the New York City he wants to lead as a model for the country. Outside taking pictures, he had only one word for how it felt to win the primary outright: 'Incredible,' he told CNN. 'But I'm excited to meet every single voter now.'
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
First Thing: Mamdani wins NYC mayoral primary after Cuomo concedes
Good morning. Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist, declared victory in New York City's Democratic primary Tuesday night as former governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race. With 93% of votes counted in the primary's first round, the progressive who is now favored to become the city's first Muslim mayor had 43.5% of the vote, with Cuomo trailing behind at 36.4%. As he conceded, Cuomo said Mamdani had run a 'really smart and good and impactful campaign'. Mamdani's victory – after he ran on a cost-of-living platform that included rent freezes – comes amid deep fissures within his party, highlighted after two union leaders resigned from its top leadership board over the party's direction. What happens now? As neither candidate is likely to reach 50%, the board of elections will now add up people's second-choice votes – from which Mamdani is expected to benefit more. How likely is he to be elected mayor in November's general mayoral election? Cuomo may still run as an independent, but Mamdani is the favorite, given incumbent Eric Adams's unpopularity and the city voting heavily Democratic. Donald Trump's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities at the weekend did not destroy two of the sites and probably only delayed its nuclear program by a few months, according to two people familiar with a classified initial assessment report. The report by the Pentagon's intelligence arm found that key components of the nuclear program could be restarted within months and that much of its highly enriched uranium was moved before the strike. How has the leaked report been received? Trump is angry about it – and the White House has claimed its an attempt to 'demean' him. To follow the latest updates on this rapidly developing story, head to our liveblog. The Trump administration has approved a $30m grant to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), despite a chaotic rollout during which Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians near distribution centers policed by soldiers and private military contractors. GHF's critics say it has politicised the distribution of aid, as it reportedly collaborates with the Israeli government. Insiders said the application for the grant was rushed through the state department unusually fast for a first-time applicant. What does the US state department say? It refused to comment on internal deliberations, but a spokesperson said: 'We are constantly looking for creative solutions to get aid into Gaza without it being looted by Hamas, and GHF stepped up.' A man on his honeymoon in Florida recently died after reportedly being struck by lightning from a storm several miles away. An appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to return Jordin Melgar-Salmeron to the US after it wrongfully deported him to El Salvador. Kenyans are marking the first anniversary of a storming of parliament last year, but there are fears the action could escalate. A notorious 19-year-old Doge staffer nicknamed 'Big Balls' has resigned from the US government, a White House official said. Despite up to 91% of people in the US and Europe saying they would be willing to try plant-based 'alternative meats', just about 20% would consider eating insects, polling has found. It seems most can't get over the yuck factor, meaning encouraging them to eat insects is unlikely to help cut down on environmentally detrimental meat consumption. Efforts, therefore, should be directed elsewhere. Marcus Skeet is only 17, but he's already battled a host of health issues, from type 2 diabetes and depression to anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. He also became a young carer after his dad developed dementia. After a suicide attempt, he began to walk – and then run. In April this year, he took on a mammoth task, running the length of Britain and raising £111,000 (about $150,000) for a mental health charity. Here, he recounts the highs and lows of the experience. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat You can text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. Judges are increasingly scrutinizing companies' efforts to offset their emissions by buying carbon credits, an analysis of 3,000 climate-related lawsuits globally has found. They join advertising watchdogs in exercising skepticism, which have been dealing with dubious climate neutrality claims for several years. Cast your mind back to 2013's grossest story: the cruise between Texas and Mexico that turned spectacularly disgusting after its sewage system broke down, leading its passengers' social conditioning to near breaking point. You can now watch the pure chaos unfold in a wild new Netflix documentary – provided you've got a strong enough stomach. First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you're not already signed up, subscribe now. If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Zohran Mamdani offered a political revolution. And won
Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York City's Democratic primary represents more than just an electoral upset. It's a confirmation that progressive politics, when pursued with discipline, vision, and vigor, can resonate broadly – even in a city known for its entrenched power structures. This was no ordinary primary. Andrew Cuomo, a former governor whose political fall from grace seemed irreparable only a few years ago, had positioned himself as the overwhelming favorite. Backed by millions from corporate interests, super PACs, and billionaire donors such as Michael Bloomberg and Bill Ackman, Cuomo relied heavily on institutional inertia and top-down endorsements. Yet Tuesday night, it became clear that this alone couldn't carry him across the finish line. Mamdani, a 33-year-old legislator from Queens, ran a relentlessly disciplined campaign built around cost-of-living issues, zeroing in on essentials such as housing, transport, childcare and groceries. Repeated attempts to define Mamdani as merely a 'Muslim socialist' with radical ideas, to force divisive identity politics to the fore, or to make the election a referendum on Israel, failed. But it wasn't simply messaging discipline that made Mamdani successful. Mamdani has a political talent rooted in genuine charisma. His fluency with language, clarity of purpose, and authenticity allowed him to speak convincingly to voters from many different backgrounds. He wasn't just another activist-politician; he proved himself to be a natural leader – someone capable of communicating moral truths without sounding moralistic. Meanwhile, Cuomo's attempt to reinvent himself in New York City politics was flawed from the outset. His candidacy was perceived by many voters as an arrogant power grab, a rehabilitation project rather than a serious commitment to addressing the city's challenges. He neglected to engage seriously with New York's relatively new ranked-choice voting system, stubbornly isolating himself rather than building coalitions, even among centrist figures. The difference in campaign styles was stark and instructive. Mamdani's campaign was fundamentally grassroots, driven by committed volunteers, including young activists from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). It was also modern and intelligent, recognizing that an ever-growing share of the electorate forms its opinions through social media and finding innovative ways to communicate policy proposals. Remarkably, almost one quarter of the early vote in this primary came from first-time voters in New York elections. Yet the results make clear that his voting base wasn't limited to young, college-educated voters most engaged by his campaign. Notably, Mamdani succeeded in neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, and Brighton Beach — all areas that swung rightward in the 2024 presidential election. This was a reward for his consistent efforts to reach out to young, working-class voters who felt alienated by the Democratic party; Mamdani's first viral video of this campaign came in November, when he interviewed New Yorkers who had voted for Trump about their cost-of-living frustrations. In the face of a skeptical public, Mamdani was even able to communicate democratic socialism as a universal politics rather than a niche identity or a dangerous ideology. Yet coalition-building factored in just as much as political resolve. Crucial to Mamdani's broad success was the principled support of progressive figures like Comptroller Brad Lander. Lander advocated for himself as the person best suited to be mayor but accepted the nature of rank-choice voting and the imperative of defeating Cuomo by cross-endorsing Mamdani. Lander's approach helped forge a coherent, united front — something increasingly rare in fractious progressive circles — and it proved decisive. Voters, for their part, proved that they were ready for change. They refused to succumb to cynical fearmongering about a supposed tide of crime and antisemitism that would come from a Mamdani victory. Instead, they took a clear-eyed look at their lives, assessed the failings of the Democratic party, and chose something fresh, new, and fundamentally different over a failed political establishment. Still, Tuesday's results carry deeper questions about the future. Mamdani's victory in this primary, significant as it is, must now be tested against Eric Adams and likely Cuomo again in the November election. Beyond that lies a far more challenging test: governing. Progressives across America have watched closely as Chicago's Brandon Johnson, another promising left-wing mayor, has stumbled against entrenched opposition and due to his own administrative failings. Mamdani will need to navigate obstacles better if elected. Historical precedent may offer some reassurance for those who wish New York's mayoral frontrunner well. The tradition of successful municipal socialism in America, including in cities like Milwaukee under the 'sewer socialists' and, more recently, in Burlington under Bernie Sanders serve as real examples of socialist governance marked by competence, effectiveness and popularity. Sanders's legacy in Burlington, especially, stands as a template Mamdani could follow: pragmatic yet deeply principled governance that steadily builds broader legitimacy among skeptics and opponents. New York mayors have traditionally been considered men who come from nowhere and go nowhere, politically speaking. But Mamdani could break that mold, following Sanders's trajectory from effective municipal leadership to becoming a durable voice in national politics. However, to succeed, Mamdani must trust his own judgment — one that has already proved incisive and strategically sound. He must maintain independence from two city establishments: the corporate one, which opposed him at every turn, and the NGO-driven progressive establishment, whose political instincts failed them in recent election cycles. Mamdani's platform, which couples a supply-side focused 'abundance agenda' with demands for equitable redistribution and expansive public-sector investment, offers precisely the kind of social-democratic governance model New York desperately needs. There's nothing fundamentally radical about these demands; rather, what's genuinely radical is the excitement they have inspired among voters, including many who previously disengaged from local politics altogether. Tonight, Mamdani has undoubtedly delivered a major victory in America's largest city. But we must be sober about the challenges ahead. Electoral wins are meaningful only if they translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, and political momentum can dissipate quickly if governance falls short. Mamdani faces an enormous responsibility – not only to his immediate constituency but also to a broader progressive movement watching closely from across the country and the world. Bhaskar Sunkara is the president of The Nation, the founding editor Jacobin, and the author of The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in An Era of Extreme Inequalities
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zohran Mamdani set to topple Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayoral race
NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist lawmaker, is on pace to win the Democratic primary for New York City mayor — a seismic shift in what normally would have been a sleepy reelection for the incumbent, Eric Adams, and one that involved toppling Andrew Cuomo's political comeback. Cuomo conceded defeat late Tuesday night and said he called to congratulate Mamdani. 'Tonight was not our night' Cuomo said at the headquarters of the New York City carpenters union. 'I'm very proud of the campaign that we ran." Mamdani won 43.5 percent of first-place votes to Cuomo's 36.3 percent, according to the New York City Board of Elections. But that outcome is not final. The board is expected to announce full results on July 1 in an election that utilized ranked-choice voting, which allows New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. Unlike Cuomo, Mamdani employed a ranked-choice strategy by cross-endorsing third-place finisher Brad Lander, so he stands to benefit from the practice. But polling in the race was tight, and Cuomo led nearly every public opinion survey, bolstered by a $25 million super PAC that flooded airwaves and mailboxes with anti-Mamdani and pro-Cuomo messaging. If Mamdani's lead holds, it would mark a humiliating defeat for Cuomo, a fixture in New York politics who tried to resurrect his career four years after resigning in disgrace, following sexual harassment and Covid mismanagement allegations. A Mamdani victory would also be tantamount to a political earthquake that will reverberate across the country, as the Democratic Party — still reeling from its losses last year — tries to chart its path forward. His lead late Tuesday night portends what will likely be an historic triumph of the party's left wing in the biggest city in the United States, for one of the highest-profile jobs in American politics. The hard-fought local fight mirrors the national Democratic divide: A young, inexperienced socialist running on a hopeful message with the backing of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez versus a 67-year-old, three-term former New York governor who worked in Bill Clinton's cabinet and got the ex-president's endorsement in the race's waning days. It is also the most high-profile Democratic primary in the country since President Donald Trump won a second term seven months ago. Seen as a referendum on how Democrats should counter the White House, New Yorkers lined up in droves during nine days of early voting, many of them matching the profile of a prototypical Mamdani supporter: Young, white and in gentrifying areas of the city. If the results Tuesday night hold, they will have chosen a new voice focused on affordability over a party elder who leaned into his prior experience fighting Trump and promised to restore order to Adams' chaotic City Hall. Buoyed by that relentless focus on affordability — Mamdani pledged to freeze the rent on more than a million regulated apartments and push for a tax increase on the rich to fund free buses and create city-owned grocery stores — the social media savvy state lawmaker earned a devoted following that included more than 50,000 volunteers. That workforce is unprecedented in a New York City race, according to Jerry Skurnik, a longtime political consultant.. The election also reflects a reshaped electorate: More than XXX,000 Democrats voted in the mayoral primary, an increase over the 942,031 who turned out in 2021, and the most since 1989, when more than 1 million New Yorkers turned out to nominate the city's first Black mayor, David Dinkins. And, as the New York Times recently reported, the Black population may be eroding in New York City. 'We were never assuming that we would sneak into this nomination in a low turnout environment,' Mamdani spokesperson Andrew Epstein said Tuesday night. 'We wanted people turning out in record numbers.' Modern history dictates that Democratic nominees typically win in New York City races, but Mamdani faces a complicated, crowded and challenging general election. Adams is seeking reelection on an independent line after opting out of the Democratic primary — a decision prompted by low approval ratings after he embraced Trump, whose administration moved to dismiss federal corruption charges against him. Republican mainstay Curtis Sliwa is running again, after securing 28 percent of the vote in 2021. Well-funded independent Jim Walden will be on the ballot too. And Cuomo has secured an independent line in the general as well. 'I'm on the general election ballot,' Cuomo said while casting his vote Tuesday morning. Either way, Mamdani is likely to face fierce opposition, backed by millions of dollars. A super PAC supporting Cuomo relentlessly attacked Mamdani for his inexperience, his criticism of Israel and his alignment with pro-Palestinian campus activism. 'This is a capitalist city that has a historic relationship with Israel,' said Kathy Wylde, who lobbies for the city's big business interests as the president of the Partnership for New York City. 'Should he win the primary, he's going to have to deal with that. Or there will be a serious surge to try and prevent him from becoming mayor.' Mamdani was barely known citywide when he launched his campaign in October, having served fewer than five years in the state Assembly and accomplishing very little, legislatively, during that time. His possible success next week would mark a stunning fall for Cuomo, who had money, a dynastic family name and the begrudging backing of the Democratic establishment — all at the hands of a socialist half his age, with an openly hostile attitude toward Israel in a city of nearly 1 million Jews. After launching his campaign in March, Cuomo dodged media appearances and candidate forums. He ran a largely nostalgia-based campaign focused on his nationally recognized televised briefings during Covid as governor and wins like legalizing same sex marriage and rebuilding LaGuardia Airport after then-Vice President Joe Biden derided it as one you'd find 'in a third world country.' He painted a doom-and-gloom portrait of the city in his unusually long 17-minute launch video and spent as much time attacking his cheery rival as he did trying to instill hope in New Yorkers, who repeatedly demanded the city go in a different direction. Cuomo leaned into his strengths — experience, management, tough talk on Trump — but focused less than Mamdani on affordability, which generally ranks as voters' top concern. The ex-governor's record came with baggage too. He resigned under pressure in 2021 after an attorney general's report found he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denies. Cuomo was also accused of covering up deaths from COVID in nursing homes, and is now reportedly under investigation by the Trump administration for lying in Congressional testimony last year — a charge he also denies and derides as politically motivated. Opponents say Cuomo caused many of the problems he now wants to fix — by mismanaging the transit system, reducing public employees' benefits and cutting homeless services funding. He entered the race a heavy favorite, and he led every poll for months. But while his support remained more or less steady, Mamdani gained. An Emerson College poll released the day before the election showed Cuomo winning the most votes in the first round, but Mamdani coming from behind when ranked votes were factored in to win overall. Elections worldwide in recent years have shown voters fed up with the establishment, and in New York City, no one embodies that more than Cuomo, who's father Mario served as governor from 1983 through 1994. Born in 1991, Mamdani would be the youngest mayor in more than a century. A Muslim of Indian heritage who was born in Uganda and immigrated to New York at 7 years old, a Mamdani mayoralty would mark many firsts for New York City. Led by Cuomo, critics called Mamdani's plans to expand city-funded services a fantasy, as they would rely upon a tax increase the governor is unlikely to grant, and slammed him for a lack of experience. He was elected to the Assembly in 2020, where he's managed a staff of five. If he wins, the politics of New York City and managing a public workforce of 300,000 will present an enormous challenge. Mamdani has pointed to his campaign as the answer. If he succeeds next week, it will be over the objections of most of the city's unions, local party leaders, editorial boards and the real estate and financial executives. 'To everyone who pulls me aside to whisper with the best intentions: 'You have already won,' Mamdani said at a campaign rally earlier this month, joined by Ocasio-Cortez. 'I am sorry, but the days of moral victories are over. This campaign is going to win on June 24 — and it's thanks to each of you.'
