State Senator Zoran Mamdani of New York celebrated a victory early Wednesday, declaring himself the frontrunner in the Democratic mayoral primary, succeeding Andrew Cuomo’s former administration.
Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, emphasized a progressive platform tackling the state’s affordability issues during a rally held in Queens shortly after midnight Wednesday.
“Tonight, we made history, and as Nelson Mandela said, it always seems impossible until it’s done,” the 33-year-old legislator expressed passionately. “My friends, we did it. I’m your Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York.”
Reflecting on the campaign, he added, “We won today, eight months after starting this quest, with a vision for a city everyone can afford.”
In his remarks to supporters, Mamdani revealed that Cuomo had called him earlier to concede and stressed the importance of unity in the city.
“I will serve as the mayor for all New Yorkers. If you choose to vote for me, it means supporting a city that works for you, especially after feeling disenfranchised by the broken political system,” he stated.
No candidate received a majority in the initial voting phase, but Mamdani had a significant lead over Cuomo, facing the challenging process of winning as ranked-choice votes are tallied.
Cuomo congratulated Mamdani, acknowledging his supporters’ efforts as well.
“Tonight belongs to Rep. Zoran Mamdani. It’s his moment. He earned it,” Cuomo remarked.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams opted to run as an independent in the upcoming general election since he did not participate in Tuesday’s primary. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican leader and founder of the Guardian Angels, is also campaigning in the general election.
Cuomo mentioned the potential to run as an independent himself in the general electoral contest.
“We’ll assess the situation and make some decisions,” he shared with his supporters.
Despite having previously been a strong contender, the former governor saw Mamdani’s rise as an unexpected turn in the race.
As of Wednesday morning, estimates from Decis Desk HQ showed Mamdani leading with 43.5% of the initial votes. Cuomo followed with 36.4%, while New York City Director Bradlander, who recently made headlines after being arrested by immigration officials, garnered 11.3%. City council chair Adrian Adams received 4.1%.
