Zohran Mamdani claimed victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor on Tuesday night after Andrew Cuomo surprisingly conceded the victory, as the young, progressive politician who was virtually unknown when the race began gained a significant lead over the more experienced but scandal-plagued former governor.
While the final outcome of the race will still be decided by the vote count, Mamdani took the lead just hours after the polls closed.
With his victory all but assured, Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who has led a vigorous campaign focused on the cost of living, told supporters: “I will be your Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City.”
“I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or whether you felt too disillusioned with a long-broken political system to vote at all. I will work to be the mayor you are proud to call yours,” he said.
Cuomo, who was leading in a race in which he has been trying to make a comeback after a sexual harassment scandal, conceded victory, telling the crowd that he had called Mamdani to congratulate him.
“Tonight is his night. He earned it. He won,” Cuomo told supporters.
Mamdani, a member of the state assembly since 2021, would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian mayor if elected. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams skipped primaries. He is running as an independent in the general elections.
Cuomo also has the option of running in the general election.
“We will take a look and make some decisions,” said Cuomo.
Cuomo and Mamdani exemplify political contrasts and could play a proxy for the broader Democratic Party’s ideological divide, with one candidate a fresh-faced progressive and the other an older moderate, AP reports.
