Zohran Mamdani, 34, has been elected and sworn in as the Mayor of New York City. His election marks him as the city's first Muslim mayor, its first South Asian mayor, and the youngest person to hold the office in over a century. Mamdani campaigned on a platform focused on affordability and expanding social programs, defeating opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Election Results and Historical Significance
Zohran Mamdani, 34, was elected Mayor of New York City. He secured 50.3% of the vote, defeating independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, who received 41.6%, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, who garnered approximately 7%. Curtis Sliwa conceded the election following projections from BBC news partner CBS, while Andrew Cuomo did not release a public statement.
Mamdani's election establishes several historical firsts for New York City, the largest city in the United States:
- He is the first Muslim individual to serve as mayor.
- He is the first South Asian individual to hold the position.
- He is the youngest person to lead the city in over a century.
Inauguration
Mamdani was sworn in as Mayor of New York City during a ceremony held at midnight on New Year's Day. New York Attorney General Letitia James presided over the oath of office. During the ceremony, Mr. Mamdani's wife, artist Rama Duwaji, held a Quran.
Candidate Background and Campaign Platform
Mamdani is a Ugandan-born Democrat who previously served as a member of the New York State Assembly. He has publicly identified as a democratic socialist since 2020, when he first sought election to the state assembly. Before his political career, Mamdani worked as a hip-hop artist and housing counselor.
His mayoral campaign gained online momentum, leading to his victory in the Democratic primary contest. His platform centered on addressing affordability in the city. He proposed expanding social programs, including universal child care and free and faster bus services, with these initiatives intended to be funded by new taxes on high earners and corporations. New York City operates with an annual budget of $116 billion.
Pre-Election Context and Political Reactions
Leading up to Election Day, Mamdani had maintained a double-digit lead over his opponents in polls for several weeks. His candidacy followed the withdrawal of former New York Mayor Eric Adams from the race after several scandals, a development that had been anticipated to benefit Andrew Cuomo's campaign.
Mamdani's campaign drew national attention. US President Donald Trump referred to Mamdani as a "communist" and stated that federal funding for New York City could be withheld if Mamdani were to win the mayoral race. Republicans also characterized the future direction of the Democratic Party as socialist following Mamdani's victory.
The campaign drew criticism from some business leaders and certain centrist Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was noted as among the centrist Democrats who did not endorse Mamdani. Conversely, Mamdani's campaign garnered support from young voters and contributed to broader discussions regarding the future trajectory of the Democratic Party.