Zohran Mamdani was elected to lead the biggest city in the United States—New York City, just after ballots closed in a fierce contest that attracted international interest.
The win will go down in history for the city, which is home to over 8.4 million people and is a significant cultural and economic force on a global scale.
Mamdani is the Big Apple’s first Muslim, South Asian, and African-born leader.
After a day of record-breaking voter turnout, the 34-year-old state lawmaker was scheduled to speak at a huge watch party on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Paramount theatre.
On Monday, however, he expressed gratitude to the supporters who “brought us to this point of making history in this city.”
Voters around the incredibly diverse city have applauded Mamdani’s historic victory, the majority of his devoted supporters have made it clear that his laser-focussed message of affordability is what matters, not his religion or ethnic identity.
However, the mayoral race has also taken on the role of a barometer for the future of Democratic politics, with Mamdani—a self-styled democratic socialist representing a potential path forward for the party and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, to many, the wealthy donor-dominated establishment of the past.
Cuomo did not hold back when casting his ballot on Tuesday, referring to it as a “civil war in the Democratic Party that has been brewing for a while.”
The former governor, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June, said, “You have an extreme radical left that is run by the socialists that is challenging, quote unquote, moderate Democrats.”
“He’s new and he’s fresh.”
CNN predicted that Mamdani would win the main election for mayor of New York City due to his focus on the issues of the working-class and his personal charisma, which catapulted a once-underdog campaign into the national spotlight.
This voting is seen as the first significant electoral test of the second Trump presidency. A preliminary exit poll conducted by the above outlet finds majority respondents disapprove of Trump in the four closely watched contests—New York, Virginia, New Jersey and California.
Meanwhile, Democrats also won two key governors’ races. Abigail Spanberger became the first female governor of Virginia and takes over from GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin, while Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeated Trump ally Jack Ciattarelli to become the first female Democratic governor of New Jersey. Check out the results here.