Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race : NPR

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs Zohran Mamdani would be the subsequent mayor of New York Metropolis, turning into the primary Muslim and individual of South Asian descent — in addition to the youngest in over a century — to carry the place.

The 34-year-old, Ugandan-born democratic socialist defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Impartial, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday's election, in accordance with a race name by the Related Press.

It is a outstanding ascent for Mamdani, who was a comparatively unknown state assemblymember representing Queens when he entered the crowded mayoral race final yr. He went on to win June's Democratic main by 12 share factors, shortly turning into one of many nation's hottest and polarizing politicians alongside the best way.

A few of Mamdani's major marketing campaign guarantees embody making town's buses fare-free, freezing stabilized rents, offering common little one care, growing the minimal wage by 2030 and reducing the price of residing by elevating taxes on massive firms and the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers.

Mamdani has additionally mentioned he would stand as much as President Trump, who has steadily criticized — and mischaracterized — Mamdani as a communist and repeatedly threatened to slash New York Metropolis's federal funding if he wins.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4001+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F29%2Ffa%2F0385b3fd4659891285ae3e739257%2Fgettyimages-2237586666.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4001+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F29%2Ffa%2F0385b3fd4659891285ae3e739257%2Fgettyimages-2237586666.jpg" class="img" alt="Zohran Mamdani takes a selfie with a young woman after speaking at a press conference on September 26, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani was joined by Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Tony Simone, and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas to condemn the ongoing raids, detentions, and actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)" loading="lazy"/> Zohran Mamdani takes a selfie with a younger lady after talking at a press convention on September 26 in New York Metropolis. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs Critics have pointed to Mamdani's relative inexperience and the political challenges he would face in delivering on his bold, extremely progressive agenda. And, regardless of his repeated disavowal of antisemitism, his vocal and long-held criticisms of Israel's authorities and actions in Gaza have alienated some voters in a metropolis that is residence to the most important Jewish neighborhood exterior of Israel.

However Mamdani's imaginative and prescient of a extra inexpensive metropolis, articulated by savvy social media movies and upbeat in-person interactions, has clearly resonated with younger and first-time voters (even exterior of New York).

He gained endorsements from scores of high-profile progressives, mobilized tens of 1000's of marketing campaign volunteers and held a double-digit lead in polls going into Election Day. Younger voters, who have been prone to have supported Mamdani, are credited with driving file early-voter turnout.

Lower than an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, it was clear his efforts had paid off.

A recap of the race New York Metropolis's mayoral race unfolded in a sequence of dramatic twists and turns, clashes and unlikely alliances. It energized voters and, in the long run, greater than two million votes have been forged — the primary time since 1969, in accordance with the New York Metropolis Board of Elections.

Present Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, initially ran for a second time period, regardless of a scandal-ridden first time period and all-time low approval rankings. After the Trump administration formally dismissed the corruption case towards him, he introduced his reelection bid in June, this time as an unbiased.

That allowed Adams to bypass the Democratic main, during which Mamdani triumphed over Cuomo. Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the institution, for the reason that 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the place himself for a decade starting in 2011.

In 2021, after quite a few ladies accused him of sexual misconduct and questions swirled about his administration's administration of nursing residence residents in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo resigned as governor to keep away from a possible impeachment trial, however denied all wrongdoing.

Angling for a comeback, Cuomo entered the mayoral race in March, saying town was "in disaster" and in want of "efficient management." His platform emphasised points like public security, inexpensive housing, healthcare and preventing antisemitism — with a extra centrist stance in comparison with Mamdani.

Cuomo reentered the race as an unbiased after his main loss, looking for to enchantment to extra average voters. He additionally obtained Adams' endorsement after the mayor dropped out in late September.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4650x3362+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F5e%2F0d3f96604984a6b50bd522e65276%2Fgettyimages-2242687292.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4650x3362+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F5e%2F0d3f96604984a6b50bd522e65276%2Fgettyimages-2242687292.jpg" class="img" alt="Eric Adams (left) poses with Andrew Cuomo during the game between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on October 22." loading="lazy"/> Eric Adams (left) poses with Andrew Cuomo in the course of the recreation between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Sq. Backyard on October 22. Al Bello/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Al Bello/Getty Photographs At that time, the race narrowed to 3 major contenders: Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa, a 71-year-old radio discuss present host and founding father of the subway patrol group, the Guardian Angels, who ran unopposed within the Republican main.

Sliwa, who ran towards Adams in 2021, was decided to stay on this yr's race regardless of third-place ballot numbers and mounting calls to drop out, from his personal celebration in addition to Cuomo himself. Their concern was that Sliwa would take votes away from Cuomo, propelling Mamdani to victory.

The three confronted off in two contentious debates in October, during which Mamdani and Cuomo sparred over problems with integrity and expertise whereas Sliwa sought to color them as two sides of the identical ideological coin.

Tuesday's election marks a pivotal second for liberal-leaning New York Metropolis and the Democratic institution. Each have grappled with how to answer the Trump administration, which has focused blue cities nationwide (together with the Huge Apple) with funding cuts and Nationwide Guard troops.

The excessive stakes and voter enthusiasm of this election have been evident properly earlier than Election Day: Town Board of Elections mentioned 735,317 voters forged ballots throughout early voting, greater than 5 occasions the variety of early voters in 2021.