Zohran Mamdani was elected on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, as the 111th mayor of New York City, winning a majority of votes and defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist and Queens state assemblymember secured just over 50% of the vote, while Cuomo finished with a little more than 40% and Sliwa about 7%. The result marks the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, and the youngest mayor in over a century. The victory came amid broader Democratic gains nationwide on the same night.
Key Takeaways
- Zohran Mamdani won the general election on 4 November 2025 with more than 50% of the vote, becoming New York City’s 111th mayor.
- Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, finished second with just over 40%; Republican Curtis Sliwa received roughly 7%.
- Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor, and at 34 the youngest mayor in more than 100 years.
- He ran on a progressive platform that included freezing rents on rent-stabilized units, building affordable housing, a $30 minimum wage, free buses and higher taxes on the wealthiest residents.
- The campaign was propelled by small-dollar donations, tens of thousands of volunteers and a strong social-media operation; he won the June Democratic primary over Cuomo by nearly 13 points.
- High-profile endorsements included Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerry Nadler, Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul (September) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (less than two weeks before the election).
- Not all Democrats endorsed him; Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand declined to publicly back a candidate in the race.
Background
The mayoral contest followed a surprising primary in June when Mamdani, a relative political newcomer, beat Andrew Cuomo by a nearly 13-point margin, upending expectations and the city’s political establishment. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment that he has denied, chose to remain in the race as an independent, seeking a comeback that reshaped the general-election dynamics. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams initially sought re-election as an independent but withdrew from the race in September, narrowing the field.
Mamdani’s rise was rooted in a grassroots organizing strategy: small donations, volunteer canvassing and an energetic social-media presence that mobilized young and first-time voters. His platform emphasized affordability and labor policies—measures aimed at the city’s working-class neighborhoods—at a moment when housing costs, public transit and public safety were top voter concerns. The campaign also became a focal point in national debates over progressive politics, Israeli-Palestinian policy, and the place of identity and religion in electability discussions.
Main Event
On election night at the Brooklyn Paramount, supporters erupted when the Associated Press projection called the race in Mamdani’s favor, with cheering and embraces capturing the mood of a coalition that included activists, union members and younger voters. Results certified by election authorities gave Mamdani a majority of ballots cast, a decisive outcome after months of polling that showed him maintaining a lead over Cuomo and Sliwa following the June primary. The numerical split—Mamdani above 50%, Cuomo just over 40%, Sliwa near 7%—reflected both the consolidation of Democratic voters around Mamdani and the limited traction of the Republican ticket in the city.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani and Cuomo traded public criticisms over experience, donor influence and policy priorities. Cuomo accused Mamdani of inexperience; Mamdani accused Cuomo of being aligned with corporate interests and wealthy donors. Debates in October touched on crime, policing, housing, transportation and international issues, notably positions on Israel and Gaza, which added intensity to conversations in communities across the city.
Outside factors also punctuated the race. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Cuomo the day before the election and issued sharp warnings about federal funding if Mamdani won. Billionaire Elon Musk publicly urged voters to choose Cuomo. Mamdani’s campaign faced targeted attacks—some explicitly Islamophobic—that his team and allies publicly condemned as racist and intended to intimidate Muslim and immigrant communities.
Analysis & Implications
Mamdani’s victory signals a shift in New York City politics toward a younger, more progressive leadership cohort that is capable of winning citywide majorities. Policy proposals such as rent freezes for rent-stabilized units and a $30 minimum wage would, if implemented, represent a major redistribution toward lower-income households and would reshape municipal budget priorities. Achieving these policies will require building coalitions with the City Council, unions, and state-level actors; a mayoral mandate does not guarantee legislative success.
At the national level, the result provides Democrats with a high-profile success in a major city and may embolden progressive organizers and prospective candidates across the country. Mamdani’s win was part of a pattern of Democratic gains on the same election night, which included other gubernatorial and legislative outcomes favorable to the party. Still, the city’s unique fiscal pressures—pension obligations, education spending and public safety—will constrain rapid, expansive reforms without new revenue sources or state and federal cooperation.
The transition will test Mamdani’s ability to move from activist legislator to executive manager. City governance requires day-to-day operational oversight of agencies, large-scale procurement and crisis response. Critics’ claims about inexperience will shape early months in office as stakeholders evaluate hires, budget proposals and how quickly campaign promises can be translated into concrete programs. Mamdani’s coalition must balance ambitious goals with fiscally credible plans to maintain public support.
Comparison & Data
| Candidate | Party / Status | Approx. Vote Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zohran Mamdani | Democratic nominee | >50% |
| Andrew Cuomo | Independent (former governor) | ~40% |
| Curtis Sliwa | Republican | ~7% |
The table above summarizes the headline vote shares reported as the race was called. In the June Democratic primary, Mamdani beat Cuomo by nearly 13 percentage points, a margin that signaled sustained grassroots enthusiasm and organizational advantage. Comparing this win to recent mayoral elections, Mamdani’s clear majority in a three-way general election is notable: multi-candidate ballots often produce narrower pluralities in New York’s mayoral contests.
Reactions & Quotes
Supporters at Mamdani’s election-night event described the moment as the culmination of a people-powered campaign that emphasized knees-on-the-ground organizing and small-dollar donations. The Associated Press’s projection drove an immediate spike in celebrations and social-media posts across New York.
“The next and last stop is City Hall.”
Conductor announcement featured in Mamdani’s post on X
Within minutes of the projection, Mamdani posted a short video on X (formerly Twitter) that used a subway announcement—”The next and last stop is City Hall”—as a symbolic capstone to the campaign. The clip circulated widely, reinforcing themes of access and civic claim over public space in the campaign narrative. Supporters used the moment to emphasize generational and demographic change in the city’s electorate.
Conservative national figures reacted sharply to Mamdani’s success, framing the outcome as a test case for federal-city relations and the political salience of identity. Critics raised immediate questions about policy feasibility and political alliances at the state and federal level:
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice… You must vote for him.”
Donald Trump, Truth Social (pre-election endorsement of Cuomo)
Trump’s pre-election endorsement of Cuomo and warnings about federal funding were picked up by media and commentators as an attempt to influence late-deciding voters. After the result, national Republican leaders emphasized concerns about fiscal management and public safety under a progressive mayor, while Democratic leaders highlighted the mandate for affordability and worker-centered policies.
“Disgusting and racist.”
Zohran Mamdani, on a comment about a radio exchange criticizing him
Mamdani publicly condemned attacks that invoked Islamophobic tropes during the campaign, describing certain comments and campaign materials as racist. His campaign and allies framed these attacks as evidence of why representation and anti-discrimination measures matter politically and socially. Civil-rights groups and many local leaders called for de-escalation and for campaigns to focus on substance rather than personal attacks.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the federal government would reduce funding to New York City if Mamdani pursues policies at odds with the White House remains speculative and untested.
- The long-term electoral effect of high-profile social-media attacks and endorsements (e.g., Elon Musk’s plea, Trump’s endorsement) on turnout is not yet fully measured.
- Allegations about specific Super PAC materials and their producers have been publicly asserted by the campaign but have not all been independently verified in court or by a neutral forensic review.
Bottom Line
Zohran Mamdani’s election represents a clear victory for a grassroots, progressive campaign in the nation’s largest city. His mandate—more than 50% in a three-way general election—gives him political capital to push toward affordability, stronger labor standards and transportation changes. Translating campaign promises into enacted policy will require negotiation with the City Council, state government and diverse stakeholders across the city’s neighborhoods.
The result also matters beyond city limits: it energizes progressive networks nationally and offers a case study in how small-dollar fundraising, volunteer mobilization and targeted messaging can overcome name recognition and establishment opponents. The early months of his administration will be decisive: fiscal planning, staffing choices and clear implementation pathways for housing and wage proposals will determine whether voters view this win as the start of sustainable change or an aspirational pivot with limited short-term policy payoff.
Sources
- The Guardian (news reporting)
- Associated Press (news agency, projection reporting)
- Reuters (news agency, election-night coverage and photography)