NEW YORK CITY—Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York state assemblyman, has claimed victory within the first spherical of the Democratic major contest for mayor of New York Metropolis within the 2025 election, whereas former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has conceded—a shocking upset victory.
Mamdani, an Indian Ugandan immigrant who turned a U.S. citizen in 2018, earned 43.5 p.c of the first-preference vote. He took workplace as a New York state assemblyman in 2021, representing the thirty sixth District that covers the Queens neighborhood of Astoria.
Cuomo, who served as governor from 2011 till his resignation in 2021—he resigned due to an impeachment course of following allegations of sexual misconduct he has denied—was lengthy the frontrunner within the race, till Mamdani closed the polling hole in latest weeks. Cuomo gained solely 36.4 p.c within the first spherical—a setback that makes it unlikely for him to achieve the 50 p.c crucial in subsequent rounds—and conceded the race on election evening.
“Within the phrases of Nelson Mandela: it at all times appears unattainable till it’s executed,” Mamdani wrote on social media, claiming victory within the race. “My pals, it’s executed. And you’re the ones who did it. I’m honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York Metropolis.”
Cuomo’s loss marks an unrealized political comeback for the previous governor, whose profession was eulogized after his resignation as governor. Cuomo is the scion of a political dynasty—his father, Mario Cuomo, served because the 52nd governor of New York from 1983 to 1994—and he beforehand served in a number of excessive federal and state workplaces. Mamdani, likewise, is of distinguished lineage: His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a widely known postcolonial scholar, and his mom, Mira Nair, is an Oscar-nominated Indian American filmmaker.
After the incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, selected to run as an unbiased amid corruption allegations and Democrats’ criticisms of his cooperation with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, Cuomo turned a serious Democratic candidate within the race. Nonetheless, within the closing weeks of the marketing campaign, Mamdani’s marketing campaign started gaining traction on social media and amongst progressive voters. In keeping with some surveys, he was forward of Cuomo, main many to consider that he may win an upset victory.
Mamdani ran on a left-wing platform and was endorsed by the nation’s high progressive officers, together with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Throughout his marketing campaign, he promised a lease freeze, the abolition of bus fares, city-run grocery shops with low costs, and no-cost baby care, making the price of residing in New York Metropolis his signature subject.
Cuomo, in contrast, had earned the endorsement of many high-profile entities, resembling The New York Instances editorial board and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who’s fashionable within the metropolis. He additionally courted and earned the endorsements of many rabbinical and Jewish neighborhood figures, who opposed Mamdani due to the latter’s criticism of Israel’s ongoing army engagements within the Gaza Strip.
Other than Mamdani and Cuomo, a number of different candidates ran within the major, together with New York Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, Speaker of the New York Metropolis Council Adrienne Adams, and former Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Lander, who was cross-endorsed by Mamdani with a view to win his second-preference votes, earned 11.3 p.c of the vote within the first spherical. Assuming that these voters ranked Mamdani second as instructed by Lander, Mamdani would win the nomination outright after the second-round tally.
The result implies that Mamdani will face Adams within the normal election.
Individually, Curtis Sliwa gained the Republican nomination for mayor, though New York Metropolis’s heavy Democratic and progressive lean implies that the GOP is often uncompetitive within the race.
Voters on Mamdani and Cuomo
The Epoch Instances spoke with a number of the practically 1 million individuals who voted within the major within the boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn to search out out who they supported, why, and the way they might react to a Cuomo or Mamdani victory.
“I voted for Zohran Mamdani,” Nikita Jain, a younger engineer from Brooklyn who voted on Election Day, stated. “I really feel that his total candidacy has been very, very properly marketed, I feel, to immigrants and other people normally. He appears to be very, very far left-leaning, however I feel that’s what many individuals have been sort of [wanting].
“I didn’t [rank Cuomo]. From what I’ve heard of him, I’ve not heard good issues. I don’t suppose that having somebody who is comparatively ethically questionable in workplace is the very best concept.”
Different voters cited Cuomo’s alleged sexual misconduct as an enormous cause for voting towards him.
“I ranked Zohran Mamdani first and Brad Lander second; ensuring to not rank Cuomo was the most important precedence for me,” Samantha Espella, an legal professional and public defender who lives within the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, informed The Epoch Instances as she exited the polls. “It’s actually essential to mirror [on] who we wish to be our legislators and who we wish to characterize us. I don’t need a man able to that to characterize me in any capability.”
Espella additionally criticized Adams and stated she would vote towards him within the normal election—a typical view expressed by Democratic major voters no matter their most well-liked candidate.
Zack Pal, a younger Jewish man who voted within the Lenox Hill neighborhood of the Higher East Aspect of Manhattan, stated he solely voted for Cuomo to stop Mamdani’s victory, citing the latter’s criticism of Israel.
“I don’t suppose that [Cuomo is] a stellar human being by any means,” he stated.
“We’re left between selecting between the lesser of two evils.”
Pal stated the selection between Cuomo and Adams could be “powerful.”
Some voters are paying extra consideration to coverage points within the metropolis and demanding modifications. Crime, homelessness, and sanitation have been the highest complaints for New Yorkers throughout Adams’s tenure.
“It’s security proper now in New York,” stated Michael Lotour, a voter within the Bronx who spoke with The Epoch Instances about his high considerations. He ranked Mamdani first and Cuomo second, saying he wouldn’t vote for Adams over his “alliance with Trump.”
“I’m simply dissatisfied together with his service this time period,” Lotour stated.
Lee, a younger lady voter in Manhattan who ranked Lander first and Mamdani second, sought to comply with the directions printed by Ocasio-Cortez beforehand.
“I do suppose Eric Adams is fully ineffective … I’m simply making an attempt to attenuate badness,” Lee stated.
Luke Florczak—a 31-year-old former U.S. Marine and candidate for New York Metropolis Council in District 4, protecting a lot of Midtown Manhattan—informed The Epoch Instances: “Having spoken with Adams, he’s not the sort of individual that I’d belief.
“I’m at all times on the mayor’s home listening to his speeches, mingling with the opposite veterans which might be there. It at all times simply looks like a dog-and-pony present.”
He additionally criticized Cuomo for the sexual harassment allegations towards him.
Ranked Alternative Voting
New York Metropolis makes use of a ranked alternative voting system for major elections, wherein voters rank candidates primarily based on their preferences and the winner is decided by a technique of elimination over a number of rounds, whereby the lowest-ranked candidate is eradicated and his or her voters’ preferences are retallied till one candidate reaches 50 p.c. Whereas supposed to present voters extra alternative, the system has proved complicated to some voters.
“I by no means knew that I may vote [for] folks on the identical time,” stated Veronica Osifo, an aged lady within the Bronx who spoke with The Epoch Instances after voting and solely ranked Cuomo on the poll.
Some voters used the chance to rank candidates by putting Mamdani and Cuomo, the top-polling candidates, decrease on the poll, reasoning that their high preferences could be eradicated anyway and that their votes would nonetheless be efficient over a number of rounds.
“I can rank high candidates decrease and it doesn’t matter,” stated Davy, a math tutor in Manhattan who ranked state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Lander as his high two preferences, with Mamdani at third.
New York Metropolis has sought to teach the general public about ranked alternative voting with election mail and signage at polling stations.
“Shout out to town for sending out … detailed directions on how you can [rank] beforehand,” Lee stated. “Lots of people bought that within the submit. It takes possibly 10 minutes to wrap your head round it to sort of get educated on it. I used to be actually impressed by the candidates’ and native politicians’ efforts to teach people on [the system].”
Candidates ‘Get Out the Vote’
All throughout town, The Epoch Instances noticed marketing campaign employees and volunteers handing out flyers close to polling stations, cautious to look at a state regulation that bans electioneering inside 100 toes of the doorway. Candidates, too, have been out in public, looking for to inspire supporters and persuade undecided voters to assist them.
Other than the mayoral election, town additionally held major contests for citywide workplaces, borough presidents, metropolis councilors, and district attorneys.
“At this time is Tuesday,” Florczak informed The Epoch Instances as he walked round distributing marketing campaign literature. “The final time I slept was Sunday morning. I’ve been coordinating volunteers, passing out flyers, [and] I’ve been to simply about each ballot location immediately since 5 a.m.”
Florzack stated most voters he encountered have been well-informed concerning the election.
“You see lots of people who’ve executed their homework,” he stated. “They know who they’re voting for; you recognize they‘ll [decline] a flyer as a result of they know who they’re voting for. There are just a few others that truly should be reminded that ’Hey, it’s election day!’”
Main day, June 24, was marked by excessive warmth. The temperature of 102 levels Fahrenheit was the most popular day in New York Metropolis in 137 years, beating the file of 96 levels F in 1888. Nonetheless, most voters stated that turnout, by their observations, had not been depressed.
“Folks have been out strolling round,” Florczak stated. “Me and a volunteer handed out in all probability 300 to 400 flyers … between 11:30 a.m. and a pair of p.m.”
Lee stated: “Turnout is definitely actually spectacular. I noticed loads of outdated folks coming in. Folks have been actually making efforts [to] be introduced in by their family and friends, commuting, [in] air-conditioned autos and stuff.”
Concerning the warmth, Pal stated, “I hope individuals are getting … out right here [to vote], as a result of it’s extra essential than that.”
The final election shall be held on Nov. 4.
When you discovered this text attention-grabbing, please contemplate supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was printed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. At this time, The Epoch Instances brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to tens of millions of People.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to unbiased journalism has by no means wavered. This 12 months marks our twenty fifth 12 months of unbiased reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you possibly can be part of tens of millions already celebrating unbiased information.
