Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblyman, declared a historic victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary after former governor Andrew Cuomo conceded late Tuesday night. Mamdani’s win marks a stunning upset in a race that saw him leading 10 other Democrats, including Cuomo, who had long been considered the frontrunner despite scandals that dogged his campaign. With 90% of votes counted, Mamdani held nearly 44% of the vote to Cuomo’s 36%, a margin that left little doubt about the outcome even before the final ranked-choice tallies were completed.

Mamdani’s campaign was powered by a robust grassroots movement focused on affordability and social justice. His policy platform included ambitious proposals such as city-run grocery stores, free buses, rent freezes, and free childcare for children up to age five—all funded by $10 billion in new taxes on corporations and the wealthy. These populist promises resonated especially with younger voters and working-class communities, helping Mamdani outpace his better-funded rivals. His campaign also drew endorsements from progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as local groups such as Make The Road Action New York and Teamsters Local 804.

The ranked-choice voting system played a pivotal role in the primary. Voters ranked up to five candidates, and with no one surpassing 50% in the first round, lower-ranked candidates were eliminated and their votes redistributed. Mamdani and city comptroller Brad Lander, who finished in third place, had cross-endorsed each other and encouraged supporters to rank both among their top two choices—a strategy that likely bolstered Mamdani’s final tally. Cuomo, acknowledging the effectiveness of Mamdani’s campaign, conceded with grace, telling supporters, “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won”.

Mamdani’s victory speech in Queens celebrated the power of grassroots organizing and the city’s appetite for change. “Tonight, we made history. I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City,” he told an enthusiastic crowd. He promised to be “a mayor for every New Yorker,” regardless of political affiliation or past disillusionment with the system, and thanked the thousands of volunteers and donors who fueled his campaign. The general election in November will now see Mamdani face incumbent mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa.