Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani

By Josh Lanier From Daily Voice

Zohran Mamdani is the projected new mayor of New York City. 

The democratic socialist toppled former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in one of the most-watched races in the country. 

The size of his victory is not clear, but analysts called the race just minutes after the polls closed at 9 p.m. Turnout for the race was more than 2 million. 

In a concession speech, Sliwa commended Mamdani on his campaign. 

"We have a mayor-elect," he told his supporters. "Obviously, I wish him well, because if he does well, we all do well."

Mamdani, 34, a New York State assemblyman and lawyer, is now the youngest New York City mayor in more than 100 years. 

He centered his campaign on making New York City affordable again, pledging to expand affordable housing, provide taxpayer-funded child care, and offer free bus rides, among other initiatives.

His message resonated with young voters as well as disillusioned moderates and progressives, but drew sharp criticism from Republicans and establishment Democrats.

President Donald Trump threatened to reduce federal funding to New York City if Mamdani were elected, though it remains unclear whether he has the legal authority to do so.

Trump endorsed Cuomo on Monday. He told "60 Minutes" that he was not a fan of the former governor, but he preferred a "bad Democrat" to a "communist."

“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”

Several right-wing leaders and influencers, including billionaire Elon Musk, reluctantly backed Cuomo in recent weeks in an effort to stymie Mamdani’s rise.

Cuomo pushed back against the endorsement, saying Trump was backing him because he fears Mamdani. But he pledged to fight the president on several issues, such as installing National Guard troops across the city. 

Trump has repeatedly and incorrectly labeled Mamdani a communist in his frequent social media posts about the race. Mamdani seized on the attention, using it to energize his supporters and boost campaign donations.

Despite Trump’s threats, Mamdani has vowed to work with the president to lower living costs in New York City and support working families.

Mamdani also faced pushback within his own party. Many Democratic leaders withheld endorsements until late in the campaign, long after he had become the presumptive front-runner.

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN on Monday that Mamdani’s progressive platform “is not the future of the Democratic Party.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, however, were early backers, joining Mamdani for rallies and fundraisers throughout the summer and fall.

Mamdani previously defeated Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary earlier this year. Both men later launched independent bids following their primary losses, but Adams later dropped out of the race.