Latest news with #NYCMayoralRace
Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
Socialist Zohran Mamdani set to win New York mayoral primary in shock result
A young socialist who was barely known to most of his fellow New Yorkers a year ago is now poised to become the Democratic candidate for mayor after scoring an extraordinary victory in the first stage of the party's primary. Zohran Mamdani, 33, had gained nearly 44 per cent in the primary race with 80 per cent of the vote counted on Tuesday night. He was congratulated by Andrew Cuomo, the former state governor who had long been regarded as the overwhelming favourite. 'Tonight was not our night,' Cuomo told his supporters. He said it belonged to the young state assemblyman from Queens. 'I want to applaud the assemblyman for a really smart and great and impactful campaign,' he said. 'He deserved it. He won.' • NYC mayor elections 2025 explained: candidates, dates and more Mamdani, who would be New York's first Muslim mayor, looked likely to fall short of a full majority in the first round. New York has ranked-choice voting, in which voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference. After the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is ejected and their voters are then apportioned to whoever they have listed second, or third, or fourth or fifth, depending on how many rounds it takes to decide the race. But Mamdani had struck co-operation agreements with two other liberal candidates, each encouraging their supporters to back the other, in an effort to beat Cuomo. A poll on the eve of the race showed Cuomo leading in the first round but being beaten by Mamdani in the final round. Instead, as the results came in on Tuesday night, Mamdani was already in the lead. • NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is poster child for 'luxury beliefs' Mamdami was born in Uganda and grew up on New York's Upper West Side, the son of a film-maker and a professor of post-colonial studies at Columbia University. He became a US citizen in 2018, and ran for the state assembly in 2020. Then, last October, he announced what looked like a quixotic campaign for mayor. He was a Democratic Socialist who had accused Israel of genocide and he wanted to give the city free universal childcare, free buses and a rent freeze. He promoted these planks of his campaign in catchy social media videos. On New Year's Day, he jumped into the sea in his suit, shouting: 'I'm freezing … your rent.' Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Though he gathered a steadily growing and enthusiastic following, it was generally presumed that he would be no match for Cuomo. It was true that the former governor, who is 67, had resigned in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. But after he announced a comeback in March as a Democratic candidate for mayor, positioning himself as a moderate, with governing experience, who would stand up to President Trump while bringing order to a disordered metropolis. His name recognition in New York, and lingering admiration for his governing record in parts of the city vaulted him to the top of a crowded field, supported by a richly funded super PAC whose donors included the former mayor Michael Bloomberg. • How to win a New York mayor debate: be the most annoying But in the final phase of the race, the polls suggested that Mamdani was catching up, with an impressive ground campaign. While Bill Clinton campaigned for Cuomo, Mamdani received endorsements from the American comedian Bowen Yang, from Bernie Sanders and from the model and actress Emily Ratajkowski. 'This is not just about New York, this is about the Democratic Party,' Ratajkowski said, in a video she shot with Mamdani. 'It's about the hope that we have that there is a belief that people can win elections, and not just money.' Cuomo, on a call with a union that was supporting his candidacy the night before election day, said the polls showed him still ahead. But he added: 'Our vote doesn't tend to come out until election day, and the problem is, election day's tomorrow and it's supposed to be 100F. So we have to make sure we get people out.' The day of the primary proved the hottest since 2012, but turnout was strong. One mischievous voter on the Upper East Side said he planned to write his own name as choice number one, number two, number three, number four and number five. This was Eric Adams, the current mayor, who won the last Democratic mayoral primary in 2021 and might, ordinarily, have expected to sail unencumbered to a second term. But Adams lost support in his own party, spectacularly, amid suspicions that he was seeking to co-operate with the Trump administration so that the US Department of Justice would, in turn, drop the federal corruption charges he was facing. 'Everything here smacks of a bargain,' wrote Judge Dale Ho in a ruling allowing the case to be dismissed. '(D)ismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.' Adams plans to run as an independent and is expected to court Republicans, whose candidate, Curtis Sliwa, was running unopposed. The mayor apparently hopes that conservatives and moderates, anxious at the prospect of a Democratic Socialist in City Hall, might join ranks behind him. But he looks likely to face competition from Cuomo, who could decide to run as an independent, if Mamdani's primary victory is confirmed, setting up would could be a more competitive election in November. In a statement on Tuesday night, Cuomo said: 'I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyse the rank choice voting. I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York, as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November.'
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Betting Markets Predict Andrew Cuomo Will Win NYC Mayoral Primary
Betting markets Polymarket and Kalshi show former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor over Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani as of Tuesday afternoon, reversing an earlier lead by Mamdani. FILE- This combination photo shows on left, Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaking ... More during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York and on right, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani talking to people after the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in New York City. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, file and Vincent Alban/The New York Times via AP, Pool, file) Associated Press Mamdani held an earlier lead over Cuomo after an Emerson College/WPIX/The Hill survey Monday found Mamdani catching up to the former governor by 10 points since last month's poll. The survey also found that the majority of voters under 50 favor Mamdani while Cuomo leads among those over 60. Both candidates have received influential endorsements from billionaires, prominent Democrats and some of the city's leading business figures.. Billionaire and former mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $5 million to Cuomo's mayoral bid and an additional $3.3 million to a super PAC supporting Cuomo. On Sunday, former President Bill Clinton endorsed Cuomo, saying 'he knew how to get things done' and would 'stand up and protect the people of this city' from President Donald Trump, according to the New York Times. Billionaire hedge fund manager and Trump backer Bill Ackman also donated $250,000 to Cuomo in April. Other Cuomo backers include tens of thousands of dollars from billionaire and Home Depot co-founder Kenneth Langone, DoorDash and Lyft, New York Magazine reports. Earlier this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani in an interview with The Times, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Mamdani in a post on X a few weeks later. Mamdani also cross-endorsed New York City Comptroller Brad Lander—third in the polls, according to The Times—who was recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in an immigration court building after asking officers for a judicial warrant. Despite Cuomo leading most polls in the race, Mamdani has gained traction in the last few weeks, according to poll numbers cited by Newsweek.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nepo-baby past of 'socialist' Zohran Mamdani as his Hinge romance and Hollywood ties are revealed
An outspoken democratic socialist who has emerged as the frontrunner in New York City 's mayoral race has a surprising past - hailing from a family filled with famed filmmakers and university professors. Zohran Mamdani, 33, is in a close contest with former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to secure the Democratic primary nomination in NYC. Born in Uganda before moving to the US when he was seven, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University Professor Mahmood Mamdani. Nair is most famous for her 1991 romantic flick ' Mississippi Masala', staring Denzel Washington while Mahmood teaches colonial studies at the liberal school in the city. The progressive wing of the Democrat has coalesced around the socialist, who would be New York's first Muslim mayor if elected. He has gained momentum by running a campaign focused on the city's high cost of living. His campaign has pushed populist ideas like free public buses, rent freezes for rent-stabilized apartments, and grocery stores that would be owned by the city. Relatively unknown when the contest began, he has secured endorsements from progressives including Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Outside of politics, the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang have thrown their weight behind Mamdani. On Tuesday morning as polls opened around the city, Ratajkowski shared a video of herself endorsing Mamdani, while wearing a 'Hot Girls for Zohran' t-shirt. Flanked by the man himself, she said: 'This election is gonna be decided by young voters. The average New Yorker is 38 years old. 'The last mayoral race was decided by 7,000 voters. That means that your vote really matters. Go ahead, get out there, we know it's hot, but the time is now.' His sharp campaign has made full use of social media, with videos of him interviewing Trump voters going viral. An army of young hipster canvassers have relentlessly knocked on doors throughout the city seeking support, while his grinning mug has been plastered across the city. Appearing on a podcast earlier this month, Mamdani also revealed that he and his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, had met on dating app Hinge. The State assemblyman said: 'I found my wife on Hinge. So (dating apps) still work. Just to let people know. It's not all roses. In a city torn over Israel's campaign against Hamas following the October 7 attacks, he has been called to show support Israel's right to exist. His pro-Palestinian stance has sparked outrage amongst the Jewish communities, which make up a large portion of the city. On Monday night he appeared alongside fellow candidate Brad Lander on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', and was questioned over his stance. He and Lander - New York's comptroller - have endorsed each other in hopes of 'sending Cuomo back to the suburbs,' Mamdani told Colbert. Colbert pushed him on his refusal to condemn calls to 'globalize the intifada ', adding: 'they are afraid that your mayorship would actually lead to increased antisemitism.' The question teed up Mamdani to denounce antisemitism while not addressing his past statements, which have included calls to 'globalize the intifada' that some say is a call to violence against Jews. When asked during a podcast interview last week if the phrase made him uncomfortable, Mamdani merely said it captured 'a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.' During the interview, Colbert, 61, asked Mamdani and Lander about Israel and whether they believe it 'has the right to exist.' 'Yes, like all nations. I believe it has a right to exist, and a responsibility also to uphold international law,' Mamdani said. Mamdani has previously said he hopes Palestinians gain political agency peacefully and that his criticism of the Israeli government is not equivalent to antisemitism. After the podcast appearance, Jewish leaders including Rep. Daniel Goldman and the Anti-Defamation League criticized Mamdani for his remarks. The Holocaust Museum in Washington DC even weighed in, calling his comments both 'outrageous and especially offensive'. As he has surged in the polls and popularity, clips of him calling for the New York Police Department to be removed from high crime areas in the city have resurfaced. In one video, he says: 'I think we need to ask ourselves, look at how the policing is done in the suburbs. 'When people make mistakes, the answer is not to throw them in jail. The answer is to find a non-carceral solution. 'For many people, especially Black people, they are not offered the same opportunity.' Cuomo, who resigned from his position as governor in disgrace over sexual harassment allegations, has cast Mamdani as being unqualified for the role. He believes Mamdani doesn't have the management chops to wrangle the city's sprawling bureaucracy or handle crises. In response, Mamdani has slammed Cuomo over the scandal that forced him to resign and his mishandling of the pandemic. Cuomo stood down in 2021 after a report by the state attorney general concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. He has always maintained that he didn't intentionally harass the women, saying he had simply fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct. Preliminary returns will be released after the polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday, a winner might not emerge for a week because of the city's ranked choice voting system. The system allows voters to list up to five candidates in order of preference. If a candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters, they win outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the tabulation of the rankings wouldn´t begin until July 1. The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump's Justice Department.
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Betting Markets Predict Zohran Mamdani Will Win NYC Mayoral Primary
Betting markets Polymarket and Kalshi predicted Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's chances of winning the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor jump on Tuesday over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the primary election gets underway. FILE- This combination photo shows on left, Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaking ... More during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York and on right, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani talking to people after the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in New York City. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, file and Vincent Alban/The New York Times via AP, Pool, file) Associated Press His lead over Cuomo came after an Emerson College/WPIX/The Hill survey on Monday found Mamdani catching up to the former governor by 10 points since last month's poll. The survey also found that the majority of voters under 50 favor Mamdani while Cuomo leads among those over 60. Both candidates have received influential endorsements from billionaires, prominent Democrats and some of the city's leading business figures.. Billionaire and former mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $5 million to Cuomo's mayoral bid and an additional $3.3 million to a super PAC supporting Cuomo. On Sunday, former President Bill Clinton endorsed Cuomo, saying 'he knew how to get things done' and would 'stand up and protect the people of this city' from President Donald Trump, according to the New York Times. Billionaire hedge fund manager and Trump backer Bill Ackman also donated $250,000 to Cuomo in April. Other Cuomo backers include tens of thousands of dollars from billionaire and Home Depot co-founder Kenneth Langone, DoorDash and Lyft, New York Magazine reports. Earlier this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Mamdani in an interview with The Times, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Mamdani in a post on X a few weeks later. Mamdani also cross-endorsed New York City Comptroller Brad Lander—third in the polls, according to The Times—who was recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in an immigration court building after asking officers for a judicial warrant. What To Watch For Despite Cuomo leading most polls in the race, Mamdani has gained traction in the last few weeks, according to poll numbers cited by Newsweek. Both front-runners for the Democratic nomination, the two candidates have been exchanging the lead among online bettors all day Monday—until Mamdani caught a steady advantage on Tuesday.
The Hill
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Mamdani leading Cuomo in NYC mayoral race hours before polls close
Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the latest in the New York City mayoral primary race as polls suggest Zohran Mamdani taking a lead over former Mayor Andrew Cuomo. #NYCMayoralRace #Mamdani #Cuomo
