NYC Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a millennial democratic socialist, is poised for a stunning mayoral victory, nearly securing the Democratic nomination after a remarkable come-from-behind win using ranked-choice voting. His campaign's success marks a significant shift in New York City politics
Ranked-choice voting delivers upset: Zohran Mamdani, Democratic Socialist, leads NYC mayoral race against Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani's surprising victory, initially projected as a tight race, prompted a concession from former Governor Cuomo
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo concedes to Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, praising his impactful mayoral campaign and declaring Mamdani the deserving winner of the Democratic primary
Andrew Cuomo's Reaction to Ranked-Choice Voting Results in NYC Mayoral Race: Following Zohran Mamdani's surprising lead, Cuomo conceded, hinting at a potential third-party candidacy to influence the upcoming NYC mayoral election. His pledge to review the ranked-choice voting data and consider how best to serve the city suggests a strategic move in the evolving political landscape
Despite not reaching the 50% threshold required by New York City's ranked-choice voting system, Andrew Cuomo conceded the Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani, who secured a commanding lead. Mamdani's victory marks a stunning upset in the race
Zohran Mamdani Wins NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary: Ranked-Choice Voting Results
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, is projected to win the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, securing roughly 43.5% of the vote against Andrew Cuomo's 36.4% in initial ranked-choice voting tallies. With 91% of ballots counted, co-endorser Brad Lander received 11.4%. Final ranked-choice results, including potential additional rounds, will be announced July 1st, after mail-in ballots are processed. Mamdani's victory marks a significant upset in the New York City mayoral race
NYC Mayoral Race: Mamdani's Stunning Victory & Path to Gracie Mansion
Zohran Mamdani's surprising win in the Democratic primary has shaken up the New York City mayoral race. The millennial democratic socialist is the presumptive front-runner for November's general election, despite facing a challenging path to Gracie Mansion. Incumbent Eric Adams' third-party candidacy and the possibility of Andrew Cuomo joining the race on a separate third-party line create an unpredictable landscape for the Big Apple's mayoral contest. Ranked-choice voting results and the upcoming general election will determine the ultimate victor
New York City's ranked-choice voting (RCV) system ensures a majority winner. If no candidate receives over 50% in the first round, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to voters' next choices. This process repeats until one candidate secures a majority, as seen in the recent mayoral primary where Zohran Mamdani's victory was determined through this method
New York City mayoral primary: Zohran Mamdani leads, defeating Andrew Cuomo, whose 2021 resignation followed sexual harassment allegations
Zohran Kwame Mamdani's surprising victory in the NYC mayoral Democratic primary defied expectations. His campaign challenged establishment Democrats, including endorsements for his opponent from Bill Clinton and Rep. James Clyburn, whose powerful 2020 endorsement secured Joe Biden's presidential nomination. This upset win positions Mamdani as the frontrunner in the November general election, despite the potential challenges posed by incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and a possible Andrew Cuomo third-party bid
Cuomo Concedes NYC Mayoral Primary to Mamdani: A Stunning Upset in Ranked-Choice Voting. Even Senator Gillibrand, a previous Cuomo critic, praised Mamdani's victory, leaving the decision on a potential Cuomo comeback to New York voters. The New York Times editorial board, despite a prior pledge against local endorsements, implicitly backed Lander while criticizing Mamdani. This unexpected win positions Mamdani as the Democratic frontrunner, though challenges remain with incumbent Mayor Adams and the possibility of a Cuomo third-party bid
Mamdani was most notably endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), both democratic socialists who’ve ridden populist waves in recent years.
Mamdani’s campaign offered a relentless focus on pocket-book issues: He promised to freeze the rent for millions of rent-regulated tenants in the city, make city buses free, provide free child care, and establish a city-run grocery store in every borough, among a list of other progressive priorities ― all funded primarily by increased taxes on people making over $1 million annually.
His campaign was notably fueled by a massive grassroots volunteer operation and savvy social media footprint. Having easily reached New York City’s matching fundraising limit in March, Mamdani urged supporters to volunteer for him ― sometimes in exchange for exclusive merchandise ― rather than donating money. And they did, with tens of thousands of New Yorkers knocking on over 1.5 million doors, according to his campaign.
That shoe-leather, 24/7 enthusiasm defined the upstart’s campaign. Shortly before Election Day, as early voting took place across the city, Mamdani walked the length of Manhattan, greeting supporters for hours up and down the island until late into the night, and later minting a new campaign video out of the jaunt.
Cuomo offered a stark contrast: The former governor hadn’t called New York City his primary residence in over 30 years before coming back just before election season, and he gained a reputation during the campaign for speeding and illegally parking a black Dodge Charger across the city.
Cuomo also benefited from the support of deep-pocketed donors, including millions of dollars in donations from a landlord interest group, as well as former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, prominent Trump donor Bill Ackman, and the food delivery service DoorDash.
Mamdani played up those contrasts: He filmed an interview with popular internet personality Kareem Rahma in which Rahma presented him with a prop familiar to millions of New Yorkers in recent weeks ― piles of anti-Mamdani mailers from a pro-Cuomo super PAC.
“Let’s look at the little print of who’s actually paying for this,” Mamdani said, pointing to fine print that showed it was DoorDash, Bloomberg and Ackman.
“That’s the kind of mismatch here, between ordinary people and billionaires,” he cracked, before referring to the donors. “These guys would rather lie to you every single day, rather than admit the fact that the policies they have pursued for so long have left us with the city that we actually have today.”
In debates, Cuomo attempted to attack Mamdani for his youth and inexperience, particularly when it came to defending the city against attacks from President Donald Trump.
“I am Donald Trump’s worst nightmare as a progressive, Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in,” Mamdani shot back at one point. “The difference between myself and Andrew Cuomo is that my campaign is not funded by the very billionaires who put Donald Trump in D.C.”
Cuomo and others ― including the news media ― made a special issue of Mamdani’s comments on Palestinian rights. When pressed on whether Israel should exist “as a Jewish state,” for example, the candidate responded that it should exist as a state with equal rights for all, a position that provided fodder for weeks of attack ads aimed at New York City’s 1 million Jewish residents.
One ad from the top Cuomo-supporting super PAC artificially darkened and thickened Mamdani’s beard, a blatantly Islamophobic jab that Mamdani highlighted in his response to the smears, while also emphasizing his own struggles as a Muslim man facing death threats and religious intolerance.
Mamdani clinching the Democratic nomination could mark a generational shift in New York politics. Currently 33 years old ― 34 when the next mayor’s term starts ― Mamdani would be New York’s youngest mayor in over a century. He’d be the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history, and the first immigrant mayor in 50 years.
Though he’s leading the Democratic primary, Mamdani’s surprise showing Tuesday was also notable for two other parties: the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party, both of whose endorsements he received in the mayoral race.
Mamdani’s huge lead was also reflective of a coalition-building strategy that took advantage of New York City’s ranked-choice voting model. Mamdani cross-endorsed with Lander, as well as with Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman and DNC official.
In contrast with the last mayoral election, several progressive candidates, including Mamdani, made a point of not attacking each other but rather training their ire on Cuomo.
One acronym described the effort: DREAM. At first, it stood for “Don’t Rank Eric Adams for Mayor.” When Cuomo entered the race, it changed to “Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor.” It changed again when Adams announced he would skip the Democratic Primary: “Don’t Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor.”
While Cuomo benefited from large-dollar donors, name recognition, and support from older voters and Black and Latino voters, he also carried substantial baggage into election day.
Cuomo resigned as governor of New York in 2021 after he was accused of sexual harassment by a dozen or so women, many of whom worked for him in the governor’s mansion. Three investigations, including one from the state attorney general and one from the Department of Justice, substantiated the majority of the harassment claims against him. Cuomo repeatedly denied all of the allegations, writing them off as politically motivated. He’s currently in the middle of three ongoing lawsuits regarding the sexual harassment complaints, which is forcing New York taxpayers to foot a $19 million legal bill.
For Mamdani, the mayoral race was about more than a rejection of Cuomo. It was about charting the way forward.
“I think of a woman I met on the BX33 [bus] in the Bronx a few years ago. As I sat next to her, she told me, ‘I used to love New York, but now it’s just where I live,’” Mamdani recalled at a rally earlier this month.
“We’re going to make this city one where working people can love it once again.”
Alanna Vagianos contributed reporting.
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