As he declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, Zohran Mamdani immediately established himself — and his progressive agenda — as a major player in Democratic politics nationally. Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary on Tuesday, June 24.
Mamdani campaigned on a far-left platform that focused on the high cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. He called for new taxes on businesses and the wealthy while promising free bus service, free childcare and a freeze on skyrocketing rents. In many ways, he played off the same economic uncertainties that propelled Donald Trump to victory in last year’s presidential election.
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Mamdani faces Republican Curtis Silwa and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who’s running as an independent, in the November general election.
Already, however, some Democrats and even Republicans are describing him as the new face of the Democratic Party — an assessment that’s meant as a compliment by some, criticism by others.
‘Tonight, we made history’
In unofficial returns, Mamdani received 43% of the vote in an 11-candidate race, seven percentage points more than Cuomo, the scandal-plagued scion of one of New York’s most prominent political families.
“Tonight, we made history,” Mamdani said at a raucous victory celebration.
“We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford,” he said. “A city where they can do more than just struggle. One where those who toil in the night can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the day. Where hard work is repaid with a stable life. Where eight hours on the factory floor or behind the wheel of a cab is enough to pay the mortgage. It is enough to keep the lights on. It is enough to send your kids to school.”
Some of Cuomo’s campaign donors are urging him to stay in the race as an independent, CBS News reported.
But on Tuesday, he congratulated Mamdani on his victory.
“He put together a great campaign, and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out to vote,” Cuomo told supporters. “He really ran a highly impactful campaign.”
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani, who is serving his third term in the New York State Assembly, was born in Uganda and moved with his family to the United States at age 7. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
His mother, Mira Nair, is a movie director, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, teaches at Columbia University. He would be New York’s first Muslim mayor and its first of South Asian descent.
Some Jewish residents of New York were wary of Mamdani, who has described Israel’s handling of its war in Gaza as genocide. He also declined to say whether Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. He denied claims that he is antisemitic.
Several prominent progressive politicians supported Mamdani’s candidacy, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
He overcame criticism that his youth and relative inexperience made him unqualified to run the nation’s largest city.
‘That’s how you win elections’
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If elected in November, Zohran Mamdani would be New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian descent. He was born in Uganda and is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Many prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, endorsed Cuomo. Others see Mamdani as the party’s next great hope, who might be able to reverse a trend that has seen young voters, especially men ages 18 to 29, flock toward Republican candidates like Trump.
He ran an energetic, upbeat campaign that relied heavily on viral videos and snappy slogans, such as “Freeze the rent” and “Free buses.”
His victory “represents the excitement that I saw on the streets all throughout the city of New York,” New York Attorney General Letitia James told The New York Times. “I haven’t seen this since Barack Obama ran for president of these United States.”
Sanders told Politico that Mamdani’s campaign could hold lessons for other Democrats.
“We need an agenda that speaks to working-class people, activates millions of people around this country to get involved on that agenda,” Sanders said. “Take on the billionaire class, take on oligarchy. That’s how you win elections.”
Some analysts suggest that if Mamdani wins in November, he’ll become a star on the national political stage.
“I think you can tie this into a little more of a vibe that’s going on across the country, where a lot of Democratic voters seem to be souring on the party’s leadership, the party’s establishment, and are looking for unusual, different voices to lead them going forward and certainly a younger set of leaders,” Seth Masket, a politics professor at the University of Denver, told NPR. “And Mamdani certainly fills that role.”
Republicans said Mamdani represents the current direction of the Democrats, whom they portray as too liberal and out of touch with most Americans. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York labeled Mamdani a “Hamas terrorist sympathizer.” Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said Mamdani would drive many New Yorkers out of the city and promised to welcome the exiles to his state.
But David Axelrod, a former adviser to Obama, said Mamdani can withstand the criticism.
“There is no doubt that Trump and Republicans will try and seize on him as a kind of exemplar of what the Democratic Party stands for,” Axelrod told the Times. “The thing is, he seems both principled and agile and deft enough to confront those sort of conventional plays.”
contributed to this report.