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Politico
a day ago
- Business
- Politico
Mamdani solidifies NYC mayoral primary win after ranked choice vote count
Mamdani's resounding victory gives him a massive advantage heading into the November general election. However, the next five months stand to be more competitive than in past elections. Cuomo maintains an independent ballot line, and his team has said he is still mulling whether to mount an active run. New York City Mayor Eric Adams launched his campaign last week and appears eager to duel with Mamdani from his perch in City Hall. And the financial and real estate titans thrown into a panic by a democratic socialist bent on raising taxes are casting about for a champion of their own. The city's ranked choice system allows voters to choose up to five candidates in order of preference. And Mamdani was the clear beneficiary: He secured nearly double the number of ranked choice votes compared to Cuomo. That is likely a function of two different campaign styles. Mamdani cross-endorsed competitors Brad Lander and Michael Blake and was part of a list of candidates endorsed by the Working Families Party, which encouraged voters to rank the entire slate — but leave Cuomo off their ballots. That trend was also reflected in campaign contributions, according to a POLITICO review of campaign finance data. Residents living in more progressive neighborhoods were more likely to donate to multiple candidates, except for Cuomo, while polling showed the former governor's supporters were less likely to rank others on their ballots. Cuomo, meanwhile, did not embrace ranked choice voting. He declined to return the favor when competitor Jessica Ramos endorsed him, and said on Election Day he only voted for himself. 'From the bottom of our hearts we thank the 428,530 New Yorkers who chose to rank Governor Cuomo as their choice for mayor and who believed in his vision to get the city back on track,' Cuomo campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said in a statement. Azzopardi included digs at his potential general election opponents, noting that Cuomo got more primary votes than Adams received in 2021 and suggesting that Mamdani's voters were motivated by 'extremism, division and empty promises.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Adrienne Adams will back Mamdani for mayor
NEW YORK — New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is backing former Democratic primary rival Zohran Mamdani for mayor — though she raised doubts about his chances in the general election. 'We'll see if he's elected,' Adams said Monday when asked in an interview with POLITICO whether she's endorsing Mamdani. 'But you know, I am a lifelong Democrat, and I will be supporting the Democratic nominee.' The speaker said she had 'no plans' to campaign for Mamdani but kept the door open to doing so. 'Tomorrow will be a week since the primaries and I'm still recovering from all of that wonderful work that I've done over the past few months,' she said at a separate, unrelated press conference Monday. 'So we'll look further down the road as time goes on.' Adams had a complicated relationship with Mamdani during the mayoral primary. Both harshly criticized Cuomo, who was considered the frontrunner, and both joined the Working Families Party's endorsed slate of four candidates in an effort to defeat the former governor. But she never formally cross-endorsed Mamdani and released a statement saying she didn't want Black voters to be taken for granted. Adams is Black, and Mamdani was eager to build support among Black voters, which polling and election results show was his weakest demographic. 'I stood up for what I believed in,' Adams said Monday, when asked if she had second thoughts, after seeing fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander hailed for cross-endorsing Mamdani and campaigning alongside him. 'I was true to who I am, true to my community.' Mamdani is all but guaranteed to be the Democratic nominee after the ranked-choice votes are tabulated and released Tuesday, and the primary result is expected to be certified in mid-July. Cuomo already conceded to Mamdani on election night after preliminary results showed Mamdani with a 43.5 to 36.4 percent lead in voters' top picks. Adams was a distant fourth, winning about 4 percent of votes. Adams was recruited to run for mayor just weeks before the filing deadline by state Attorney General Letitia James and other leaders to be a bulwark against Cuomo with Black voters. But even with the disappointing result, she said she was glad to have run. 'This has been the most meaningful experience of a lifetime, and I have no regrets at all. I am so grateful for my journey,' she said. Mamdani could face a competitive general election. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams opted out of the primary and is seeking reelection on an independent line. Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Jim Walden are also running. And Cuomo's name is expected to be on the ballot after he secured an independent line of his own, though he hasn't announced whether he'll mount a campaign. Mamdani garnered the endorsement Monday of the New York City Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for unions. That's the latest success in his effort to expand his coalition for the general election, following key endorsements from labor unions such as the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council and elected officials such as Rep. Jerry Nadler. The democratic socialist assemblymember still faces some hesitation from key members of the Democratic establishment, such as Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said last week that there were 'areas of difference in our positions.' Adrienne Adams endorsed Eric Adams in the 2021 mayoral primary, but their relationship soured. The City Council has consistently battled with the mayor to restore budget cuts, enact police accountability legislation and limit cooperation with ICE under President Donald Trump's administration. On Friday, however, the Council reached a deal with the mayoral administration to boost legal defense funding for immigrants in the city budget. 'There has been resistance, particularly with immigration issues, when it comes to the mayor because of his relationship with the Trump administration,' Adrienne Adams said Monday. 'However, he still has to be the mayor for all people in the city, and realizing that he is also a mayor for our immigrant New Yorkers, I believe that he thought he had to come around. And I'm really, really glad that he did.' An earlier version of this report misstated the preliminary primary election results.
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Adrienne Adams will back Mamdani for mayor
NEW YORK — New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is backing former Democratic primary rival Zohran Mamdani for mayor — though she raised doubts about his chances in the general election. 'We'll see if he's elected,' Adams said Monday when asked in an interview with POLITICO whether she's endorsing Mamdani. 'But you know, I am a lifelong Democrat, and I will be supporting the Democratic nominee.' The speaker said she had 'no plans' to campaign for Mamdani but kept the door open to doing so. 'Tomorrow will be a week since the primaries and I'm still recovering from all of that wonderful work that I've done over the past few months,' she said at a separate, unrelated press conference Monday. 'So we'll look further down the road as time goes on.' Adams had a complicated relationship with Mamdani during the mayoral primary. Both harshly criticized Cuomo, who was considered the frontrunner, and both joined the Working Families Party's endorsed slate of four candidates in an effort to defeat the former governor. But she never formally cross-endorsed Mamdani and released a statement saying she didn't want Black voters to be taken for granted. Adams is Black, and Mamdani was eager to build support among Black voters, which polling and election results show was his weakest demographic. 'I stood up for what I believed in,' Adams said Monday, when asked if she had second thoughts, after seeing fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander hailed for cross-endorsing Mamdani and campaigning alongside him. 'I was true to who I am, true to my community.' Mamdani is all but guaranteed to be the Democratic nominee after the ranked-choice votes are tabulated and released Tuesday, and the primary result is expected to be certified in mid-July. Cuomo already conceded to Mamdani on election night after preliminary results showed Mamdani with a 45.3 to 36.4 percent lead in voters' top picks. Adams was a distant fourth, winning about 4 percent of votes. Adams was recruited to run for mayor just weeks before the filing deadline by state Attorney General Letitia James and other leaders to be a bulwark against Cuomo with Black voters. But even with the disappointing result, she said she was glad to have run. 'This has been the most meaningful experience of a lifetime, and I have no regrets at all. I am so grateful for my journey,' she said. Mamdani could face a competitive general election. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams opted out of the primary and is seeking reelection on an independent line. Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Jim Walden are also running. And Cuomo's name is expected to be on the ballot after he secured an independent line of his own, though he hasn't announced whether he'll mount a campaign. Mamdani garnered the endorsement Monday of the New York City Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for unions. That's the latest success in his effort to expand his coalition for the general election, following key endorsements from labor unions such as the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council and elected officials such as Rep. Jerry Nadler. The democratic socialist assemblymember still faces some hesitation from key members of the Democratic establishment, such as Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said last week that there were 'areas of difference in our positions.' Adrienne Adams endorsed Eric Adams in the 2021 mayoral primary, but their relationship soured. The City Council has consistently battled with the mayor to restore budget cuts, enact police accountability legislation and limit cooperation with ICE under President Donald Trump's administration. On Friday, however, the Council reached a deal with the mayoral administration to boost legal defense funding for immigrants in the city budget. 'There has been resistance, particularly with immigration issues, when it comes to the mayor because of his relationship with the Trump administration,' Adrienne Adams said Monday. 'However, he still has to be the mayor for all people in the city, and realizing that he is also a mayor for our immigrant New Yorkers, I believe that he thought he had to come around. And I'm really, really glad that he did.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mamdani stuns Cuomo: 5 takeaways from the NYC mayoral primary
Zohran Mamdani stunned political observers across the country Tuesday as he appeared set to win the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. While a winner hasn't been officially declared due to the city's ranked choice ballot system, Cuomo didn't wait for the entire vote to be tabulated to concede. Less than two hours after the polls closed, he told his supporters that 'tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night,' underscoring a seismic shift in American politics. Mamdani made gains on Cuomo in recent weeks but still trailed in most polling against the former New York governor, who instantly entered the race in March as the clear favorite. But Mamdani rose rapidly as the primary approached. Here are five takeaways from the night's results: Mamdani's rise is one of the most stunning in recent memory. He entered the Democratic race to replace embattled Mayor Eric Adams (D) as a little-known state legislator who had only served in office since 2021. He started out in single digits in polling, well behind Cuomo, and found himself in the middle of a pack of other, more established candidates trying to break through. His momentum was apparent in recent weeks as he closed the gap behind Cuomo in the polls and gained several high-profile endorsements from top progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The progressive Working Families Party also called on voters to rank Mamdani first on their ballots. How much he closed the gap seemed up in the air, with polls varying significantly. While one independent poll showed Mamdani within range of Cuomo and prevailing in the final round, most of the polls consistently showed Cuomo ahead. But that apparent lead didn't materialize as voters headed to the polls. Mamdani is currently on track to be ahead after the first round and won't need as much support from other candidates' voters to reach a majority. With 92 percent of the estimated vote in as of Tuesday night, the New York State Assembly member led the pack with close to 44 percent of the vote, while Cuomo had 36 percent of the vote and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sat at 11 percent. Ultimately, Mamdani's victory is likely to go down as one of the most stunning upsets in recent history. Cuomo's concession of the Democratic primary on Tuesday may have added to the stunning effect of the night's results, but New York City voters might not have seen the last of him. Cuomo announced in May that he would also run in the general election under the banner of the Fight and Deliver Party, saying at the time that he wanted to secure the largest coalition possible and appeal to those disillusioned with the Democratic Party. As long as he receives enough signatures to appear on the ballot, and assuming he decides to go forward, this would likely ensure him a spot facing off against Mamdani again. But Cuomo seemed uncertain about whether he would go through with this general election campaign, saying he'll take time to decide how to go forward. 'I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyze the rank choice voting,' he said in a statement. 'I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York, as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November.' After a few notable defeats or close calls in recent months, Tuesday night offered a much-needed shot in the arm for progressives. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, had the backing of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, the de facto leaders of the progressive movement, and observers were watching closely to see if the two members of Congress scored an important symbolic victory in the New York City primary. Notably, Mamdani made no effort to distance himself from the left wing of his party, which has struggled to repair its image in the wake of former Vice President Kamala Harris's loss in November. Cuomo, meanwhile, had received the backing of more establishment Democrats, in addition to a handful of members of Congress, including New York Democratic Reps. Adriano Espaillat, George Latimer, Tom Suozzi and Ritchie Torres. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) also offered his endorsement. Mamdani's strong performance is notable given progressives have suffered some losses over the last year, including former Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) — some of the most high-profile progressive members of Congress who lost their primaries last cycle. His victory comes amid an intraparty battle between its progressive and establishment wings. Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have sought to harness grassroots progressive energy around the country through appearances focused on ending American 'oligarchy.' This year's New York City mayoral race is also a far cry from 2021, which catapulted Eric Adams, who was campaigning then as a centrist Democrat with a background as a former police officer, to the mayor's office. Voters have since soured on Adams, who was embroiled in a corruption case that was ultimately dropped earlier this year, and will be running as an independent in the general election. In other races in the city, progressive Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg coasted to easy primary wins against more moderate challengers. Key to Mamdani's victory was his strong performance not just with groups with which he had been polling well, but also with groups that polls suggested weren't as favorable to him. Polling had regularly shown Mamdani's strengths to be with young voters, in particular millennials and those from Generation Z, while Cuomo relied on an aging population. The surveys were in line with the party's generational battle, as many Democrats have expressed frustration with its old guard and called for generational change. Mamdani was also seen to be stronger with white voters and those with college degrees, the latter of whom increasingly are part of the Democratic base and are regular voters. But Mamdani also performed decently with groups that Cuomo had leaned on, winning in some mixed Black-Hispanic areas and keeping his losses in Black areas to smaller amounts than expected. He also won in some wealthy older white areas. Mamdani was expected to perform well among wealthier voters, but older voters were key to Cuomo's path to victory. One question looming over the party after Tuesday night will be whether Democrats use Mamdani's campaign as a guide moving forward in their own elections, particularly as he sought to create a diverse coalition of key voting blocs and energized young voters — some of the same ones the party struggled with last cycle. The mayoral election may also prompt some members of the party to reconsider voters' appetites toward voting for new and diverse candidates. Many establishment and centrist Democrats aligned themselves with Cuomo despite his controversies, as Mamdani was viewed as politically too far left by some. But if Tuesday night demonstrated anything, it's that Democrats aren't shy about disrupting the status quo and rejecting powerful Democratic brands. Political observers, of course, can only extrapolate so much from one singular election. Yet the election comes against the backdrop of a party that is struggling with how to counter President Trump in his second term and giving its base reasons to be excited about voting for Democrats. While the mayoral race could easily be seen as a moderate-progressive David vs. Goliath story, it's also a part of a larger dynamic of younger candidates challenging older politicians. The primary results may add winds in younger Democrats' sails, particularly those challenging older incumbents in Congress. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Brad Lander is the very definition of an unprincipled political weasel
As the city comptroller, Brad Lander must surely know that fellow Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani can't possibly make good on his pricey promises. And if he tries, he might bankrupt the city. So will Lander finally be straight with New Yorkers and warn them of the dangers Mamdani poses? Ha. During the primary, the weaselly Lander kept his lips sealed about Mamdani's 'free' everything — about how much it would actually cost, the fact that a mayor isn't likely able to raise taxes enough to pay for it all and the fiscal and economic disasters that would follow if he did. Advertisement Surely Lander knew Mamdani's 'free-stuff' campaign was joke; if he didn't, he doesn't deserve to be comptroller, let alone mayor. Yet Lander stood arm-in-arm with his Working Families Party comrade, and even cross-endorsed him. Even as he ran against him in the primary. It's the very definition of a weasel. Advertisement Lander could've told the truth about Mamdani's promises: Free buses, like free lunches, would still have to be paid for. If funding is short, fewer buses will run. Oh, and expect many of the buses to turn into fetid mobile homeless shelters as they did in other cities. Making CUNY tuition-free would cost $1 billion while forcing the public colleges to eliminate degree programs and faculty positions. Advertisement A proposed $9 billion tax hike on corporations and the city's top 1% of households would fuel out-migration and shrink city revenue. Lander, by the way, didn't just stay silent about Mamdani's fiscal lunacy; he also refused to call out his socialist buddy's blatant antisemitism, even though the comptroller claims to be a proud Jew. We're not counting on Lander to spill the beans now about his spend-happy pal's fiscal recklessness, especially since he may be maneuvering for a post in a potential Mamdani administration. Advertisement More likely he'll keep radio silent. But here's the good news: Lander leaves office at year's end; if New Yorkers are lucky, they'll never hear anything from him again.
