Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist. anti-Israel candidate, who built his campaign around working-class affordability and assembled a diverse volunteer network, will become New York City's next mayor after defeating Andrew Cuomo, CNN's Decision Desk projects. The assemblyman's victory crushes Cuomo's attempted political comeback, marking the former governor's second loss to Mamdani after their June Democratic primary contest, with Republican Curtis Sliwa also remaining in the race despite Cuomo supporter pressure to exit, CNN reported.
Progressive Democrats score a major win with Mamdani's election as the national party debates strategies for confronting President Trump, who falsely called the assemblyman a "communist" and warned he would "take over" the city, according to CNN. The victory will amplify Mamdani's national profile and his policy proposals including rent freezes for stabilized apartments, fare-free public buses, and universal childcare funded through taxes on wealthy residents, CNN projects. His comments against Israel throughout the war in Gaza, including his rhetoric that would not condemn Hamas' atrocities and even globalizing the intifada, have sparked concern among the Jewish communtiy in the city, which is the largest Jewish city in the world.
"We will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism," he said in his speech, then added, "No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election." Turning to his oponent, former governor Cuomo, he said, "My friends we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish 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."
Video: Mamdani's victory speech in New York on Nov. 4, 2025/Credit: Reuters
He also attacked President Donald Trump, who has tried to derail his candidacy by calling on voters to choose Cuomo. "Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up."
Mamdani's mayoral win completes a rapid one-year political rise after the assemblyman launched his campaign promising to make America's costliest city affordable for working people. The three-term state legislator entered the race as an apparent long-shot against what seemed to be Cuomo's race to lose.
Born in Uganda and raised initially in Cape Town, South Africa, Mamdani moved to New York City at age 7, attended Bronx High School of Science, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College, CNN reported. His father Mahmood Mamdani teaches at Columbia University while his mother Mira Nair directed films including "Mississippi Masala" and "Monsoon Wedding" as an Indian filmmaker.
Before his assembly service, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor and briefly pursued rap music under the name "Mr. Cardamom," a career opponents highlighted in attack advertisements, according to CNN.
