In a political upset shaking New York’s establishment, 33-year-old State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, marking a seismic shift in the city’s political landscape.
With nearly all precincts reporting, Mamdani secured 52.3% of the vote to Cuomo’s 46.7%, toppling a once-dominant political figure and signaling the growing power of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the city’s progressive base.
“This victory isn’t mine alone — it belongs to every tenant fighting eviction, every taxi driver burdened by debt, and every New Yorker who’s been told that justice must wait,” Mamdani told supporters at a jubilant campaign event in Astoria, Queens, where he launched his political career. “We just proved that working-class organizing can defeat political dynasties.”
Cuomo, who served three terms as governor before resigning in 2021 amid multiple scandals, had attempted a political comeback by running a centrist campaign focused on crime, development, and “restoring order” to City Hall. His campaign outspent Mamdani’s nearly 5-to-1 and relied heavily on support from traditional Democratic power brokers and real estate donors.
Mamdani, by contrast, ran on a boldly progressive platform emphasizing affordable housing, expanded public transit, taxing the wealthy, and defunding the NYPD to reinvest in community services. His campaign leaned on grassroots organizing, multilingual outreach, and small-dollar donations, drawing strong support from working-class, immigrant-heavy neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
The son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and a former foreclosure prevention counselor, Mamdani has become a prominent voice on the left since his 2020 election to the State Assembly. His victory is the most significant win yet for New York’s growing DSA-aligned movement, and it reshapes the path to the November general election, where he will be the clear favorite in a heavily Democratic city.
In his concession speech, Cuomo acknowledged the defeat but did not directly endorse Mamdani. “The voters have spoken,” he said. “New York City faces serious challenges, and I hope the next mayor is up to the task.”
Political analysts say the results reflect not only Cuomo’s baggage but also a deep generational and ideological shift among the city’s Democratic electorate.
“This is the end of an era — and possibly the beginning of a new one,” said Christina Greer, a political science professor at Fordham University. “Mamdani’s win signals that the progressive movement is no longer at the margins of city politics — it’s at the center.”
Mamdani now heads into the general election in November with momentum, a galvanized base, and the potential to become the most left-wing mayor in New York’s modern history.
