Mamdani nears victory in NYC Democratic mayoral primary after Cuomo concedes

Wednesday 25 June 2025 - 11:34

By: Zahouani Ilham

Mamdani nears victory in NYC Democratic mayoral primary after Cuomo concedes

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state legislator and self-identified democratic socialist, was on track Tuesday to win the Democratic primary for New York City mayor in a surprising upset against former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In a brief message to supporters, Cuomo, 67, who had attempted a political comeback after resigning amid sexual harassment allegations, said he had reached out to Mamdani to congratulate him. Cuomo acknowledged, "Tonight belongs to him," as he conceded the race.

With nearly 95% of ballots counted, Mamdani led Cuomo by 43.5% to 36.4%, with nine other Democratic candidates far behind, according to the city election officials.

Declaring victory to his supporters, Mamdani said, "Today, with a vision of a city affordable to all New Yorkers, we have won." He vowed to oppose the policies of President Donald Trump and lead the city as a model for the Democratic Party.

Because of New York’s ranked-choice voting system, the final results will take more time, but Mamdani’s lead appeared significant, especially after third-place candidate Brad Lander urged his supporters to place Mamdani second.

This contest was viewed as an early indicator of the Democratic Party’s future direction, contrasting Cuomo’s moderate, establishment-backed approach with Mamdani’s progressive, fresh perspective.

Mamdani is expected to be the favorite in November’s general election in a city dominated by Democrats. The current mayor, Eric Adams, running as an independent, faces diminished support amid scandals and perceived connections to Trump.

For many voters, Mamdani represented a new chapter for the party. Ignacio Tambunting, a 28-year-old actor, said Mamdani's youth and background made him the preferred choice. Leah Johanson, 39, chose Mamdani despite concerns over his liberal stance and refused to support Cuomo due to the harassment accusations, which Cuomo denies, attributing them to misinterpreted behavior.

Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani, who would become the city’s first Muslim mayor, is known for his pro-Palestinian activism. He represents Queens in the state assembly and has received endorsements from progressive leaders Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Cuomo criticized Mamdani for lacking experience, while Mamdani challenged Cuomo on the harassment claims. Cuomo had backing from prominent figures like Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg.

The ranked-choice voting system eliminates the lowest-ranked candidate in rounds, reallocating votes until a candidate secures over 50%. Mamdani’s lead is expected to grow due to mutual endorsements with Lander, who received 11.6% of the vote and recently gained attention after being briefly detained at an immigration court.