Zohran Mamdani's meteoric rise in New York signals a widespread desire for change among Democrats
The shockwaves reached far beyond New York. They rippled through the Democratic Party, shook its leadership, drew the attention of the media and sparked a mix of ridicule and concern in Trumpist circles. By winning the Democratic primary for mayor on Tuesday, June 24, Zohran Mamdani, 33, delivered a spectacular victory to the progressive camp. Born in Uganda and a Muslim, the young elected representative from Queens and member of the New York State Assembly defeated the embodiment of the local elite, seen as immobile and marked by collusion: former governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, the favorite in the race. Cuomo quickly conceded defeat, with 36.4% of the vote to Mamdani's 43.5%.
As noted by The New York Times, Cuomo ran a campaign limited to churches, synagogues and labor union meetings in front of sympathetic audiences. He resigned as governor in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment. That same year, Mamdani went on a 15-day hunger strike in front of City Hall in solidarity with taxi drivers who were heavily in debt. Six months ago, few residents knew his name. This gives some idea of the scale of his achievement. In November 2024, Mamdani is expected to face, among others, a former Democrat who became an independent after falling out of favor with his own party: the current mayor, Eric Adams, who was indicted for corruption in 2024, before Donald Trump personally ordered the charges dropped as a personal favor.
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