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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani has been declared the next mayor of New York City, according to NBC News and CNN.
In an election that saw record early voting turnout, Mamdani surged to victory Tuesday night with 49.6 percent of the vote, compared to 41.6% for independent Andrew Cuomo and 7.9 percent for Republican Curtis Sliwa when the race was called just after 9:30 p.m. Polls in New York closed at 9 p.m.
Why It Matters
While elections are taking place around the country, the New York City mayoral race became the focal point of the 2025 election period, with President Donald Trump voicing his opinions on who should run his home city, and Democrats looking to see if they stand a chance of revival after their 2024 federal defeats.
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What To Know
Polls showed Mamdani, 34, with a relatively comfortable lead in the weeks leading up to Election Day, but that started to narrow in some polls, with former New York Governor Cuomo looking to catch up.
The final days of the campaign saw Trump endorse Cuomo rather than Republican candidate Sliwa, with all three hopefuls ramping up their efforts to sway voters, be it through Mamdani’s on-the-ground efforts across the five boroughs, Cuomo’s social media posts with warnings about his rival’s plans or Sliwa’s attempts to show NYC his credentials as someone who was tough on crime and cared about the city.
Mamdani and Cuomo's records have raised concerns for some voters. For the democratic socialist, it’s his seemingly slim resume, despite his time as a state assemblymember, and his past comments on Israel and Palestinians, which have caused some voters to waver on him.
Cuomo, meanwhile, has struggled to get away from the reason he was forced to step down as governor in 2021—allegations of sexual harassment—as well as accusations that he had not spent enough time in the New York City.
The new mayor will succeed Eric Adams, who was elected in 2021. A Democrat then, he originally tried to run for reelection under the party’s banner but struggled to gain support after allegations of corruption during his previous campaign and while in office. After running as an independent, he dropped out a few weeks before Election Day.
New Yorkers were also voting on a series of ballot measures, including efforts to expedite construction of affordable housing, reflecting a broader issue during the 2025 election: the cost of living in one of the country’s largest and most expensive cities.
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What People Are Saying
New York Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to reporters at Mamdani's victory party: "This is a big step towards a better future for our city, but it is still going to take all of us to execute on an agenda. As we know, President Trump has threatened New York City if they stand up to him. The people of New York came together and we said: 'You don't threaten New York.'"
National Iranian American Council Action Executive Director Jamal Abdi, in a statement shared with Newsweek: “This victory signals a generational shift in our politics. As New Yorkers showed today, Americans – especially young people and communities of color – are demanding leaders with vision who stand with the oppressed, not the powerful; who build peace and prosperity instead of profit from war and division. Zohran’s campaign embodied that vision, and his victory belongs to everyone who believes a better future is possible."
Former Clinton administration Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, on X: "The oligarchy came out in full force against Zohran Mamdani's fight for a more affordable NYC. It didn't matter. Let his victory in the face of Big Money serve as a reminder that people have the power."
What Happens Next
Mamdani will fill New York City's mayoral seat on January 1.
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