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Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s next mayor, has delivered a four-word message to “despot” President Donald Trump in a fiery victory speech in Brooklyn Tuesday night.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said. “And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
“So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was running as an independent, in the city’s mayoral race.
Also on Tuesday night, Virginia elected its first female governor after former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger beat Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
In New Jersey, Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill won the gubernatorial race over former Republican state legislator Jack Ciattarelli.
Voters also decided to approve a ballot measure in California to redraw its congressional maps to favor Democrats in response to Texas’ redistricting efforts favoring Republicans.
Trump ducked blame following the Democratic electoral sweep, saying it was because he was not on the ballot.
Newsom says passage of Prop 50 is a victory for Californians and whole country
The passage of Prop 50 in California gives Democrats a huge boost towards getting control of Congress from Republicans (and Trump) in 2026 midterms.
A new congressional map is expected to help Democrats win 48 of California’s 52 congressional seats as Democrats get a major piece of firepower to combat the Republican-led redistricting arms race.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday, state Governor Gavin Newsom called the passage a victory for Californians and the entire country, celebrating the victory as a successful push to thwart what he called Trump’s attempts to “rig the midterms.”
“After poking the bear, this bear roared,” Newsom told reporters in a brief victory speech at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento.
However, the state is likely to face legal challenges right on the heels of California’s election, with looming deadlines for 2026 races that could complicate these mid-decade map rewrites.
Alex Woodward5 November 2025 05:21
WATCH: Zohran Mamdani offers powerful message to President Donald Trump in victory speech: ‘Turn the volume up!”Turn the volume up!’: Zohran Mamdani offers powerful message to President Donald Trump in victory speech
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 05:15
BREAKING: Government shutdown enters 36th day, breaking record set during Trump’s first term
The federal government shutdown has officially entered its 36th day, breaking the record set during Donald Trump’s first term.
It comes shortly after the president blamed decisive Democrat wins in Tuesday elections in multiple states on the shutdown, and the fact that his own name wasn’t on the ballot.
In posts on Truth Social, Trump also urged Republicans, once again, to “terminate” the filibuster, which would allow the GOP to end the shutdown.
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 05:10
Top Democrats congratulate their party on election victories
Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former President Barack Obama, have congratulated members of their party on sweeping electoral victories Tuesday night.
Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 05:00
Mamdani’s four-word message to Trump
In a powerful moment, Zohran Mamdani, who is New York City’s next mayor, offered “four words” directly to the president.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said. “And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.
“This is not only how he stopped Trump, it’s how we stop the next one.”
He added: “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
His words were met with an explosion of cheers that lasted several minutes.
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 04:50
Mamdani vows New York will be the light ‘in this moment of political darkness’
In his remarks, Mamdani vowed that New York would now be the light “in this moment of political darkness.”
“Here, we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall, your struggle is ours too,” he said.
Mamdani also vowed to fight the “scourge of antisemitism” while also making sure that Muslims living in the city “know they belong.”
“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election,” he said to roars from his supporters. “This new age will be defined by a competence and a compassion that have too long been placed at odds with one another.”
Mike Bedigan 5 November 2025 04:39
Mamdani victory speech: ‘Breathe this moment in’
Despite acknowledging that he had “asked so much” from his supporters, Mamdani made “one final request.”
“Breathe this moment in,” he told cheering crowds in Brooklyn Tuesday night.
“We have held our breath for longer than we know. We have held it in anticipation of defeat. Held it because the air has been knocked out of our lungs too many times to count. Held it because we cannot afford to exhale.
“Thanks to all of those who sacrifice so much, we are breathing in the air of a city that has been reborn.”
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 04:33
Mamdani thanks younger voters for electoral victory
In his remarks, Mamdani thanked younger voters, who had helped “usher in a new era of leadership.”
“On January 1, I will be sworn in as the mayor of New York City, and that is because of you,” he said.
“So before I say anything else, I must say this, thank you. Thank you to the next generation of New Yorkers who refuse to accept that the promise of a better future was a relic of the past.
“You showed that when politics speaks to you without condescension, we can usher in a new era of leadership.”
Mamdani also thanked those who, he said, were “so often forgotten by the politics of our city who made this movement their own.”
He included Yemeni Bodega owners, Mexican abuelas, Senegalese taxi drivers, Uzbek nurses,Trinidadian line cooks and Ethiopian aunties.
With a smile he added thanks to “aunties,” referring to controversy during the campaign around his use of the phrase.
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 04:29
Mamdani takes jab at Cuomo in victory speech
Addressing his supporters at a celebration in Brooklyn Zohran Mamdani wished his rival, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, “only the best in private life.”
“But let tonight be the final time I utter his name, as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few.”
Mamdani added that he and his supporters had “toppled a political dynasty.”
“The future is in our hands,” he said.
Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 04:25
NYC mayoral candidate Sliwa gets emotional in concession speech
In his concession speech, an emotional Republican Curtis Sliwa vowed to “mobilize” against socialism but wished Zohran Mamdani luck in his administration.
“If you try to implement socialism,” Sliwa warned, “we’re not only organizing, but we are mobilizing.”
“Obviously, I wish him good luck,” he said of Mamdani, “because if he does well, we all do well.”
“Enjoy the night, because we’ve got a lot of work to do to save our city,” he said.
Asked after his 10-minute remarks whether he will run again after coming up short in 2021 and 2025, he said he’s “not thinking about it right now.”
Alex Woodward5 November 2025 04:20