Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor's race in history-making victory
Zohran Mamdani will be the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday's election, ABC News projects.
At his victory party in Brooklyn, Mamdani supporters cheered and embraced, some tearfully, after the race was called. Campaign posters flew through the air, as one person hoisted the official flag of New York City and Bad Bunny played from the speakers.
"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," Mamdani declared to a roaring crowd at his victory party. "I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that abandoned the many and answers only to the few."
Mamdani is set to be the first the city's Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa.
He will also become the city's youngest mayor, 34, in more than a century when he takes office on Jan. 1.
He cast his win as a victory for blue-collar workers struggling to get by. "New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change," he said, vowing to "wake up each morning with a singular purpose: To make this city better for you than it was the day before."
Voters came out in huge numbers Tuesday. According to the city's Board of Elections, more than 2 million voters cast ballots - the first time that has happened in a New York mayoral race since 1969.
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Mamdani, campaigning on a progressive economic platform, remained the front-runner since clinching the Democratic primary and has notched key endorsements from figures such as Gov. Kathy Hochul. But he has faced some backlash over the feasibility of his proposals and current or former views on issues such as policing.
There's also the question of how Mamdani will deal with Trump, who not only threatened retribution against the city, but also suggested he might try to arrest and deport Mamdani if he won. Mamdani was born in Uganda, where he spent his early childhood, but was raised in New York City and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
Cuomo had attempted a political comeback, after leaving the public eye when he resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct allegations. He has framed himself as a moderate who can tap into his previous experience as governor to deliver.
In his concession speech, a defiant Cuomo called his campaign "a caution flag that we are headed down a dangerous, dangerous road" and noted that "almost half of New Yorkers did not vote to support a government agenda that makes promises that we know cannot be met."
Still, he corrected his supporters when they began to boo at the mention of Mamdani's name.
"No, that is not right," he said, offering to help the incoming mayor in any way. "Tonight was their night."
"We will all help any way we can, because we need our New York City government to work. We want it to work for all New Yorkers, because our city is the greatest city in the world, and we will unite for New York City because we love New York City," he said.
In his conession speech, Sliwa said he would keep fighting and keep a close eye on the new mayor.
"We will not retreat. We will not leave the city of New York," he said. "And let me warn our new leader, if you try to implement socialism. If you try to render our police weak and impotent, if you forsake the people's public safety, we're not only organizing, but we are mobilizing, and we will become the mayor elect and his supporters, worst enemies, worst nightmare."
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams himself chose not to run in the Democratic primary and initially mounted an independent campaign, but suspended his campaign in late September, saying that media speculation and funds withheld by the city's campaign finance board undermined his ability to fundraise.
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ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this article
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