By Spy Uganda
Zohran Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim and the first person of South Asian descent to hold the position, as well as the youngest mayor in more than a century.
“The future is in our hands,” Mamdani declared to roaring applause Tuesday night at a victory celebration in Brooklyn. “My friends, tonight we have toppled a political dynasty.”
The 34-year-old, Ugandan-born Democratic socialist defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election.
It’s a remarkable rise for Mamdani, who was a relatively unknown state assemblymember representing a district in Queens when he entered the crowded mayoral race last year. He went on to win the Democratic primary in June by 12 percentage points, quickly becoming one of the country’s most visible and polarizing politicians.
Taking the stage Tuesday night, Mamdani didn’t shy away from his socialist roots. He opened his speech with a quote from Eugene Debs, the early 20th-century socialist who ran for president five times. “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity,” Mamdani said, promising to improve conditions for the city’s workers.
Many of Mamdani’s young supporters who gathered in Brooklyn said they were drawn by his optimism and his promise to make life more affordable. “I voted with my parents, it’s a tradition of ours,” said Dania Darwish, 32, a Syrian-American from Brooklyn. “My mom was crying the entire way to the voting station. It was emotional for all of us to see someone on the ballot who represents us.”
Mamdani’s campaign focused on a bold progressive platform: fare-free city buses, a rent freeze on stabilized apartments, universal child care, a higher minimum wage by 2030, and a lower cost of living through higher taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers.
He also pledged to stand up to President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Mamdani as a communist and threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if he won.
In his concession speech, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, warning of what he called growing antisemitism and lawlessness. “We need the police to keep society safe. We will not make the NYPD the enemy,” he said, condemning Mamdani’s embrace of socialism. “We are headed down a dangerous, dangerous road.”
Critics have questioned Mamdani’s inexperience and the difficulty of delivering on his sweeping agenda. Despite his repeated rejection of antisemitism, his sharp criticism of Israel’s government and its actions in Gaza has alienated some voters in a city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Still, Mamdani’s appeal reaches far beyond New York. His energetic campaign, fueled by savvy social media outreach and grassroots organizing, made him a national figure among young progressives. He received endorsements from leading left-wing figures, mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers, and entered Election Day with a commanding lead in the polls. Young voters, in particular, were credited with driving record early-voter turnout.
Less than an hour after polls closed, it was clear his strategy had worked.
The race itself was one of the most dramatic in recent memory, filled with twists, high-profile clashes, and unlikely alliances. More than two million New Yorkers cast ballots, the highest turnout since 1969, according to the city’s Board of Elections.
Current Mayor Eric Adams initially sought a second term despite scandals and record-low approval ratings. After federal prosecutors dropped their corruption case against him, he announced a reelection bid in June as an Independent, avoiding the Democratic primary that Mamdani ultimately won over Cuomo. Mamdani’s victory was seen as a blow to the political establishment. Cuomo, the son of a three-time New York governor, had served as governor himself for a decade before resigning in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.
Hoping for a comeback, Cuomo entered the mayoral race in March, saying the city was “in crisis” and needed “effective leadership.” His platform focused on public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and fighting antisemitism, with a centrist approach in contrast to Mamdani’s left-wing agenda. After losing the primary, Cuomo ran again as an Independent, with Adams endorsing him after dropping out in September.
The final contest came down to Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa, a 71-year-old radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels subway patrol group. Sliwa, who ran against Adams in 2021, refused to withdraw despite pressure from within his own party, which feared he would split the anti-Mamdani vote.
The three faced off in two heated debates in October, where Mamdani and Cuomo sparred over integrity and experience, while Sliwa accused both of being out of touch.
Tuesday’s election marked a pivotal moment for liberal-leaning New York City and for Democrats nationwide. The Trump administration’s ongoing battles with blue cities, including threats of federal funding cuts, added even more intensity to the race. The city’s Board of Elections reported 735,317 early votes—more than five times the number from 2021—showing the energy that carried Mamdani to his historic win.
