November 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nMore than 2 million New Yorkers cast ballots in the contest, the largest turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, according to the city\u2019s Board of Elections. With roughly 90 per cent of the votes counted, Mamdani held an approximately nine percentage point lead over Cuomo.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s unlikely rise gives credence to Democrats who have urged the party to embrace more progressive, left-wing candidates instead of rallying behind centrists in hopes of winning back swing voters who have abandoned the party.<\/p>\n
He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to the city \u2014 and even take it over \u2014 if Mamdani won.<\/p>\n
At his victory party in Brooklyn, Mamdani supporters cheered and embraced, some tearfully, after The Associated Press called the race. Campaign posters flew through the air, as one person hoisted the official flag of New York City and Bad Bunny played from the speakers.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s X account posted a video of a subway train pulling up to City Hall station, with an announcement that said, \u201cThe next and last stop is City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a concession speech, a defiant Cuomo called his campaign \u201ca caution flag that we are headed down a dangerous, dangerous road\u201d and noted that \u201calmost half of New Yorkers did not vote to support a government agenda that makes promises that we know cannot be met.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, he corrected his supporters when they began to boo at the mention of Mamdani\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that is not right,\u201d he said, offering to help the incoming mayor in any way. \u201cTonight was their night.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/64HDFCJXYXKFUV32ZM7UJ2I6DE.jpg\")
Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters during a Democratic primary watch party, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura) Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters during a Democratic primary watch party, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura) <\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s grassroots campaign centered on affordability, and his charisma spoiled Cuomo\u2019s attempted political comeback. The former governor, who resigned four years ago following allegations of sexual harassment that he continues to deny, was dogged by his past throughout the race and was criticized for running a negative campaign.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also the question of how Mamdani will deal with Trump, who not only threatened retribution against the city, but also suggested he might try to arrest and deport Mamdani if he won. Mamdani was born in Uganda, where he spent his early childhood, but was raised in New York City and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.<\/p>\n
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Mamdani\u2019s most prominent backers, said New Yorkers would fight back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to stand up to bullies and thugs in the White House,\u201d she told reporters.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/T64D3T4EGVFCFJOGT4XNB7RZWA.jpg\")
AOC Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks at Foley Square, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Angelina Katsanis) New mayor will pursue an ambitious agenda<\/p>\n
Mamdani, who was criticized throughout the campaign for his thin resume, will now have to begin staffing his incoming administration before taking office next year and game out how he plans to accomplish the ambitious but polarizing agenda that drove him to victory.<\/p>\n
Among the campaign\u2019s promises are free child care, free city bus service, city-run grocery stores and a new Department of Community Safety that would send mental health care workers to handle certain emergency calls rather than police officers. It is unclear how Mamdani will pay for such initiatives, given Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s steadfast opposition to his calls to raise taxes on wealthy people.<\/p>\n
His decisions around the leadership of the New York Police Department will also be closely watched. Mamdani was a fierce critic of the department in 2020, calling for \u201cthis rogue agency\u201d to be defunded and slamming it as \u201cracist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.\u201d He has since apologized for those comments and has said he will ask the current NYPD commissioner to stay on the job.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s campaign was driven by his optimistic view of the city and his promises to improve the quality of life for its middle and lower classes.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/D3PNUBH3SDGMQMR672MOAQFUFA.jpg\")
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, speaks during a mayoral debate with independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Angelina Katsanis, … Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, speaks during a mayoral debate with independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Angelina Katsanis, Pool) <\/p>\n
But Cuomo, Sliwa and other critics assailed him over his vehement criticism of Israel \u2019s military actions in Gaza. Mamdani, a longtime advocate of Palestinian rights, has accused Israel of committing genocide and said he would honor an arrest warrant the International Criminal Court issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
Mamdani \u201cis now the face of the Democratic Party,\u201d New York GOP Chair Ed Cox said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Mamdani won over the city while Cuomo faltered<\/p>\n
Mamdani began his campaign as a relatively obscure state lawmaker, little known even within New York City.<\/p>\n
Going into the Democratic primary, Cuomo was the presumed favorite, with near-universal name recognition and deep political connections. Cuomo\u2019s chances were buoyed further when incumbent Mayor Eric Adams bowed out of the primary while dealing with the fallout of his now-dismissed federal corruption case.<\/p>\n
But as the race progressed, Mamdani\u2019s natural charm, catchy social media videos and populist economic platform energized voters in the notoriously expensive city. He also began drawing outside attention as his name ID grew.<\/p>\n
Mamdani ultimately trounced Cuomo in the primary by about 13 points. <\/p>\n
The former governor relaunched his campaign as an independent candidate for the general election, vowing to hit the streets with a more energetic approach. However, much of his campaign continued to focus on attacking opponents. In the race\u2019s final stretch, he claimed Mamdani\u2019s election would make Jews feel unsafe.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/RLSF5V2ZQAAYADY4L42OZJASAI.jpg\")
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks at Dutch Kills Playground on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki) New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks at Dutch Kills Playground on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki) <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, supporters packed Mamdani\u2019s rallies, and he held whimsical events, including a scavenger hunt and a community soccer tournament.<\/p>\n
Cuomo also juxtaposed his deep experience in government with Mamdani\u2019s less than five years in the state Legislature. But the former governor also faced his own political baggage, as his opponents dredged up the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation, as well as his decisions during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Sliwa, the creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, also had his moments \u2014 mostly in the form of funny quips on the debate stage \u2014 but had difficulty gaining traction as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.<\/p>\n
He conceded the race about a half hour after the polls closed, telling supporters: \u201cWe have a mayor-elect. Obviously I wish him good luck because if he does well, we do well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz, Philip Marcelo and Jake Offenhartz contributed to this report<\/p>\n