In a landmark election that drew the highest turnout in decades, Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. According to official tallies and reporting by the Associated Press, Mamdani secured approximately 50.5% of the vote to Cuomo’s 41.3%.

At 34 years old, Mamdani becomes both the youngest mayor in generations and the city’s first Muslim mayor-elect. His campaign, rooted in democratic socialist principles, focused heavily on affordability, housing reform, universal public services and heightened outreach to younger and immigrant voters.

Mamdani’s win follows his earlier upset in June when he defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, a result that signaled a shifting dynamic in city politics.

In his victory speech, Mamdani thanked supporters for driving historic turnout and pledged to make affordability and equity his administration’s first priorities. He said, “This is your victory. We now build a city where the many succeed.”

For Cuomo, the election marked a failed political comeback. Having resigned as governor amid scandal in 2021, his challenge was viewed as an opportunity to reset but he could not overcome the momentum behind Mamdani’s grassroots campaign.

With Mamdani’s win, New York City could enter a phase of bold policy shifts. Observers note that his agenda, including rent freezes for stabilized units, free public transit initiatives, and municipally-owned grocery stores, will face intense scrutiny in a city defined by complexity and scale.