Zohran Mamdani, 34, is the projected winner of New York City’s race for mayor in a contest that rallied young voters and sparked debate about the future direction of the Democratic Party.
The Ugandan-born Mamdani, a Democrat, beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, to become the youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the US.
A self-described democratic socialist, he made affordability the central message of his campaign, pledging to expand social programmes paid for by new taxes on high earners and corporations.
Mamdani was a relatively unknown member of New York State Assembly until his campaign gained online momentum a few months ago, propelling him to victory in the Democratic primary contest over the summer.
In projections from BBC news partner CBS, Mamdani had secured 50.3% of the vote, compared with Cuomo’s 41.6%. Republican Curtis Sliwa had just over 7%. Shortly after the winner was projected, Sliwa conceded.
“We have a mayor-elect,” Sliwa told a group of supporters. “Obviously I wish him good luck, because if he does well, we do well.”
“We’ve been with them, each and every day, and we will not surrender, we will not retreat, we will not leave this city of New York.”
Cuomo also conceded, congratulating Mamdani to a chorus of boos from his supporters. “That is not right,” he chided.
“Tonight was their night. 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, pledging to help the new administration.
It is a historic moment as Mamdani also becomes the first South Asian and Muslim to lead the city.
But Mamdani’s campaign has drawn significant national attention, including from US President Donald Trump, who in the days before the vote threatened to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani, whom he called a communist, won.
There are questions over how he will pay for his ambitious social agenda and critics have questioned how a politician with no executive experience will handle a hostile Trump administration.
On Tuesday night, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson criticised on X the “consequences” of New York City’s choice. “Zohran Mamdani’s election cements the Democrat Party’s transformation to a radical, big-government socialist party,” he wrote.
The president also posted on social media, blaming the shutdown, and his not appearing on the ballot, for Republican losses Tuesday night.
Centrist Democrats clinched victories in elections for governor on Tuesday night, with US Representative Abigail Spanberger and US Representative Mikie Sherrill winning races to run the states of Virginia and New Jersey respectively.
Mamdani’s win also presents a dilemma for the Democratic establishment, which has been reluctant to endorse him. Despite that, he was favored to win New York City’s election, leading Cuomo and Sliwa in the polls by double digits for weeks leading up to Election Day.
A relatively unknown figure just months ago, few could have predicted his rise, from hip-hop artist and housing counsellor to the frontrunner to lead a city with a $116bn (£88bn) budget and global scrutiny.
The former New York assemblyman centred his campaign on affordability in one of the country’s most expensive cities, campaigning on issues like universal child care, and free and faster buses.
His candidacy drew criticism from business leaders and centrist Democrats, some of whom did not endorse him, including fellow New Yorker and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Republicans have seized on his expected win to paint the future of the Democratic Party as a party of socialism. President Donald Trump has repeatedly lambasted Mamdani and threatened to withold federal funding from the city if he wins.
Still, Mamdani won even after New York Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race after several scandals, which was expected to boost Cuomo’s candidacy.
