New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani delivered a shocking victory over Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary, overcoming months of antisemitism allegations related to his sharp critiques of Israel, according to JTA. The 33-year-old democratic socialist's triumph represents one of the most unexpected outcomes in recent New York City political history. Since Democrats outnumber Republicans 9:1 in the city, he is likely to win in November's general election again regardless of who the other candidates are.
MAMDANI: "As Mayor I would have Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York!"
WTF? pic.twitter.com/BOWhI6hbmh
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) June 24, 2025
Mamdani has vowed to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the city due to his actions in the Gaza Strip. This would in effect exercise the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in November 2024, even though Israel and the US are not party to the tribunal and it is unlikely that the mayor has the authority to arrest a diplomat without any specific crime committed on city's jurisdiction.
The former New York governor – who had secured backing from influential Democratic figures including Bill Clinton and centered his campaign around combating antisemitism – acknowledged defeat to Mamdani at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday evening, JTA reported. Cuomo, aged 67, addressed his supporters at a campaign watch event with gracious remarks.
"Tonight was not our night," Cuomo said to supporters gathered at a watch party. "Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won," according to JTA.
During the extended campaign period, Cuomo – who stepped down as governor in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations from multiple women – had been widely viewed as the overwhelming favorite to secure the nomination, JTA reported.
With the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and rising antisemitic incidents across New York City and beyond, both Israeli policy and anti-Jewish hatred became pivotal campaign themes, according to JTA. Cuomo characterized antisemitism as "the most serious and most important issue" in the mayoral race and "in many ways, the toughest issue facing the city of New York and the country."
Mamdani represents a sharp contrast as a vocal Israel opponent who has consistently championed the boycott movement against the Jewish state, JTA reported. Following the October 7 attacks, he criticized Israel, defended his conversations with popular Twitch streamer Hasan Piker despite antisemitism accusations against the content creator, and initially supported before later rejecting the "globalize the intifada" slogan that many Jewish Americans interpret as inciting violence against Israelis.
Under the city's ranked-choice voting mechanism, victory requires achieving 50% support, according to JTA. The Associated Press calculated Mamdani's support at 43.5% and Cuomo's at 36.4% by Tuesday's conclusion, with vote counting expected to extend into next week.
While Tuesday evening marked a significant triumph for Mamdani, uncertainty surrounds his potential general election opponent, JTA reported. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams seeks reelection under two newly created ballot lines titled "EndAntiSemitism" and "Safe&Affordable." Cuomo had indicated potential interest in mounting an independent campaign if unsuccessful in the primary but declined to confirm such plans Tuesday evening.
Mamdani's platform featured promises of rent freezes and fare-free public transportation, alongside proposing establishment of a Department of Community Safety designed to expand anti-hate programming, including antisemitism prevention initiatives, according to JTA.
"Antisemitism is not simply something that we should talk about – it's something that we have to tackle," he stated during his Monday evening appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. "We have to make clear there's no room for it in this city, in this country."
City Comptroller Brad Lander, who identifies as both Jewish and progressive, captured slightly more than 11% of Tuesday's counted ballots, securing third position behind Cuomo, JTA reported. During the campaign's final weeks, Lander and Mamdani provided mutual endorsements.
Should Mamdani prevail in November's general election, he would become New York City's inaugural Muslim mayor, according to JTA.
"We are not going to let anyone divide Muslim New Yorkers and Jewish New Yorkers," Lander declared at a Tuesday evening watch party.
In additional ballot contests, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who is Jewish, prevailed over Councilman Justin Brannan in the comptroller race, while in a closely monitored Park Slope, Brooklyn City Council contest, incumbent Shahana Hanif – who has also criticized Israel and lost Jewish community support over her responses to antisemitic incidents in the borough – defeated Maya Kornberg, who is Jewish, JTA reported.
