Zohran Mamdani Delivers Decisive Victory in NYC Primary
Mamdani was the presumptive nominee, after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded the race the night of the primary election last week. But the AP officially called the race for Mamdani on Tuesday afternoon, once the ranked-choice results were released that indicated Mamdani had defeated Cuomo by 12 percentage points. New York City's Board of Elections will certify the final results later this month.
The result marks a stunning political upset, since Cuomo, who in 2021 resigned as governor in disgrace after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, had long led in polling of the primary. But Mamdani soared in the polls in the weeks leading up to the election.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist state assemblymember who grew up in Queens, has pledged to be 'Donald Trump's worst nightmare' and campaigned on a progressive platform that includes plans to make city buses free and open city-run grocery stores. He has drawn endorsements from popular progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as the ire of Republican leaders, including Trump himself.
Now, Mamdani will face off against a new set of opponents in the highly anticipated general election in November. Among them is current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who chose not to run in the Democratic primary and instead announced that he would be campaigning as an independent after becoming embroiled in several controversies. Republican Curtis Sliwa, who Adams defeated in 2021, and another independent candidate, former federal prosecutor Jim Walden, will also be on the ballot.
Adams's time leading the city has been shrouded in scandal following his indictment last fall on federal charges of bribery and fraud. He has faced mounting calls to resign, but has denied the allegations against him. The Justice Department dropped its case against him in April, claiming that pursuing it would impede Adams's ability to implement the Trump Administration's immigration agenda—a move that the judge granting the dismissal said 'smacks of a bargain.'
Cuomo is now said to be contemplating an independent run in the general election as well.
As the Democratic nominee, Mamdani is likely to be a frontrunner in the race. A Democrat has won the last three New York City mayoral elections. If elected in November, Mamdani would be the first South Asian and first Muslim to lead New York City.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
36 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Man who killed his family after his wife sought a divorce is set for execution in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A man who killed his wife and two children in 1994 after she sought a divorce is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Edward J. Zakrzewski, II, is set to die July 31 in the ninth execution scheduled for this year in the state. He pleaded guilty in 1996 to three counts of first-degree murder and received three death sentences in the killings of wife Sylvia Zakrzewski, son Edward Zakrzewski, 7, and Anna Zakrzewski, 5. The man beat his wife with a crowbar and machete and strangled her to death and killed the children with a machete June 9, 1994, in Okaloosa County. He eventually turned himself into law enforcement after the case was profiled on the television show 'Unsolved Mysteries,' according to court documents. Another man on death row, Michael Bernard Bell , 54, is set to die by lethal injection July 15 at Florida State Prison. He's convicted of killing two people outside a bar. Thomas Lee Gudinas , 51, who was convicted of raping and killing a woman in Florida, was executed following a lethal injection at the same prison last week. The state also executed six people in 2023 but only carried out one execution last year. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Severe Weather Throws Wrinkle in 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Vote
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Severe weather including "torrential rainfall" and thunderstorms in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast has snarled travel Tuesday, prompting flight delays and cancellations for House lawmakers racing back to D.C. to vote on the massive and much-debated financial package dubbed the "big, beautiful bill" by President Donald Trump. Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS) via email Tuesday for comment. Why It Matters The legislative package has been promoted as a cornerstone of Trump's domestic agenda, seeking to ensure government continuity while broader debates over spending and executive authority continue. In a closely divided House, even minor absenteeism could fundamentally alter the outcome, exerting immense pressure on lawmakers to be present regardless of personal travel obstacles. On Tuesday after a marathon vote, the Senate narrowly passed the bill with a tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, sending it back to the House for final passage. What To Know As storms swept the regions, commercial airline cancellations climbed Tuesday into the evening. Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, wrote on X, formerly Twitter Tuesday, "All flights to Washington, DC from Charleston tonight have been canceled due to weather." She wrote in another post, "Both my flights to DC, one for tonight and one for early tomorrow morning have been canceled by the airline. *sigh* Scrambling to find a way to get to DC in time to vote for the Big Beautiful Bill. 🇺🇸" Republican Congressman Russell Fry of South Carolina posted a video on X describing a similar snag: "I was supposed to be on a plane actually headed to Washington, D.C. tonight to vote on the one big, beautiful bill tomorrow in the House or this week, but flights up and down the East Coast are being cancelled." Fry added that he was getting in the car to drive to the nation's capital, saying in part, "the moment is too important." Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin shared a similar travel story on Tuesday on X, saying, "My flight to DC was canceled so I'm driving to Chicago to catch a 6AM flight because I refuse to miss voting NO on the Big Ugly Bill!" Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, on X said his flight was also canceled on Tuesday. He said he will drive to D.C. while hosting a virtual town hall from the car. According to Flight Aware's misery map, the D.C. area experienced 95 delayed and 79 canceled flights as of 9:01 p.m. ET Tuesday. Politico first reported the travel obstacles experienced by lawmakers. A flight departure information board is shown on July 23 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by AARON SCHWARTZ/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) A flight departure information board is shown on July 23 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by AARON SCHWARTZ/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) What People Are Saying NWS Baltimore-Washington posted to X on Tuesday: "A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 PM EDT for the District Of Columbia, DE, MD, NJ south-central/southeast PA, northern/central VA, eastern WV Panhandle, and adjacent coastal waters. The main hazard will be damaging wind. More info: Trump, on Truth Social Tuesday after the Senate pushed the bill through: "Almost all of our Great Republicans in the United States Senate have passed our 'ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.' It is no longer a 'House Bill' or a 'Senate Bill'. It is everyone's Bill. There is so much to be proud of, and EVERYONE got a major Policy WIN — But, the Biggest Winner of them all will be the American People, who will have Permanently Lower Taxes, Higher Wages and Take Home Pay, Secure Borders, and a Stronger and More Powerful Military. Additionally, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security Benefits are not being cut, but are being STRENGTHENED and PROTECTED from the Radical and Destructive Democrats by eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse from those Programs." Trump continued, "We can have all of this right now, but only if the House GOP UNITES, ignores its occasional 'GRANDSTANDERS' (You know who you are!), and does the right thing, which is sending this Bill to my desk. We are on schedule — Let's keep it going, and be done before you and your family go on a July 4th vacation. The American People need and deserve it. They sent us here to, GET IT DONE!" "Our Country is going to explode with Massive Growth, even more than it already has since I was Re-Elected," the president said. "Between the Growth, this Bill, our Tariffs, and more, 'THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' sets the United States down a fiscal path by greatly reducing our Federal Deficit, and setting us on course for enormous Prosperity in the new and wonderful Golden Age of America. To my GOP friends in the House: Stay UNITED, have fun, and Vote 'YAY.' GOD BLESS YOU ALL!" What Happens Next Flight schedules and weather conditions for lawmakers' return to D.C. remain variable as of Tuesday evening as the House weighs its final vote on the legislation.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Lindsey Graham gets GOP primary challenge from André Bauer, South Carolina's former lieutenant gov
CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. André Bauer is mounting a GOP primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing the incumbent isn't conservative enough to represent the state. Bauer, a wealthy developer, is a longtime backer of President Donald Trump . His candidacy sets up a midterm grudge match with Graham, a four-term senator whose relationship with Trump has undulated through the years, but who has Trump's endorsement for reelection. Bauer has described himself as 'a real, America First conservative' intent on representing what he sees as South Carolina conservatives' true values. 'I think Graham's been there too long, and he votes like it,' Bauer told The Associated Press Tuesday night. 'I'm guaranteed, I'm conservative, and I don't think he is.' Republicans dominate South Carolina's statewide-elected positions, meaning that the most intense political competition takes place in GOP primaries. Graham has faced previous primary challenges from the right, with opponents accusing him of kowtowing to Democrats on issues from immigration to climate change. But he also hews to Republican priorities on national security; ahead of last month's U.S. strike on Iranian facilities, Graham called for Trump to 'go all-in' in backing Israel and destroying Iran's nuclear program. Graham kicked off his reelection campaign in February, and at least one other Republican has also announced a primary challenge. He has already secured Trump's endorsement. This week, Graham's campaign announced that Chris LaCivita, a co-campaign manager of Trump's 2024 bid, would serve as a senior adviser. On Tuesday, Abby Zilch, spokeswoman for Graham's campaign, noted that the senator had earned Trump's 'complete and total endorsement,' adding that Bauer 'has spent his career chasing titles to feed his ego.' Bauer said he understood Trump's need to use Capitol Hill relationships to advance his legislative priorities, like the tax cuts and spending bill that came before the Senate Budget Committee — which Graham chairs — before passing the chamber earlier Tuesday. 'Trump's got to work and get his bills passed,' Bauer said. 'Lindsey's chairman of a major committee. ... I get what you have to do.' Bauer has backed Trump since before his win in South Carolina's 2016 GOP primary. At his 2024 campaign's South Carolina launch event, Trump called Bauer — who served on his state leadership committee — 'a friend of mine, somebody that could I think run for almost any office and win.' Bauer served in the South Carolina legislature before, at 33, he was elected the youngest lieutenant governor in the country in 2002. After two terms, he mounted an unsuccessful 2010 gubernatorial bid, finishing last in a four-way GOP primary ultimately won by Nikki Haley. Two years later, Bauer ran for Congress, losing a GOP runoff to eventual Rep. Tom Rice in South Carolina's newly created 7th District. Asked how much of his own money he would commit, Bauer declined to give a figure, saying he would 'put skin in the campaign' and looked forward to returning to the trail. 'I'm going to cover this state like the dew covers Dixie,' Bauer said. 'I think you're going to see a movement.' ___ Kinnard can be reached at Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
