The Associated Press has declared Zohran Mamdani the winner of the New York City mayoral election. The Democratic nominee’s victory is a significant win for the party’s progressive wing.
Election Results and Margin
With 75 percent of the votes counted, the results show:
- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat): 50.4 percent of the vote.
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent): 41.3 percent of the vote.
Mamdani’s victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, caps a stunning ascent for the 34-year-old state lawmaker.
Historical Significance of the Win
Mamdani’s win is highly historic for New York City:
- Firsts: He is set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa (Uganda).
- Youngest Mayor: At 34, he will also be the city’s youngest mayor in over a century when he takes office on January 1.
- Progressive Mandate: A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Mamdani ran a populist campaign centered on making the notoriously expensive city more affordable, proposing ambitious policies such as free child care, free city bus service, and a rent freeze for stabilized tenants.
The contest drove the biggest voter turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, with over 2 million New Yorkers casting ballots.