Mamdani confirmed as Democratic nominee for New York mayor, defeating Cuomo
The 33-year-old self-declared democratic socialist defeated his nearest rival by a strong margin, winning 56 per cent to former governor Andrew Cuomo's 44 per cent, in the third round of vote counting.
Neither candidate won a majority of votes in the June 25 primary vote, prompting election officials to begin a process of eliminating lower-ranking candidates and recounting.
But after Mamdani earned 43 per cent outright, Cuomo — aiming for a comeback after a sex scandal — conceded defeat the night of the vote, a stunning outcome for the Democrats.
Staunchly pro-Israel Cuomo led in polls for most of the race, with massive name recognition as well as support from powerful centrist figures including former president Bill Clinton.
'Democrats spoke in a clear voice, delivering a mandate for an affordable city, a politics of the future, and a leader unafraid to fight back against rising authoritarianism,' Mamdani said Tuesday.
Born in Uganda of South Asian parents, New York state assemblyman Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor of the heavily Democratic city if he wins the general election in November.
Polling currently shows him ahead of current Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa for the November vote.
Adams was elected in 2021 as a Democrat but is running as an independent. Mamdani and others have accused the mayor of allowing the Trump administration to conduct immigration raids in exchange for burying federal corruption charges against Adams.
Cuomo is still weighing a possible run as an independent, which could further complicate the race.
The mayoral contest has catapulted Mamdani from an unknown to the national stage, with Democrats debating if he is too far-left or just what is needed to beat back President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda.
Asked on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday if he is a communist, Mamdani responded with a negative but added, 'I don't think that we should have billionaires.'
'Frankly, I've heard he's a total nut job,' Trump said Tuesday morning. 'I think the people in New York are crazy because they go this route.' — AFP
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