A little-known socialist politician has won a shock victory in the Democratic primary race to be the party’s shoe-in candidate to become the next Mayor of New York City, despite running against the well-funded political heavyweight and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
On a blisteringly hot election day in the US’s largest city, Democratic voters overwhelmingly voted for 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani, who has served as a New York Assembly member since 2021 and is a card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
While his main opponent offered the status quo, Mamdani offered a radical platform of free buses, rent freezes and municipal food stores, sweeping most every district by a double-digit margin, with the exception of the Upper East and West Sides of the city.
Former Governor Cuomo broke records in the race, not for turning out the vote but being backed by the largest-ever Super PAC in a mayoral primary, raising an astonishing $25 million in a failed attempt to beat the 33-year-old political novice, as well as racking up a long list of fruitless endorsements from influential Democrats.
But all this establishment effort to keep the Mamdani out of the prestigious office was to no avail, with Mamdani’s grassroots campaign and populist messaging breaking through across broadcast and social media.
With his defeat clear, Cuomo called Mamdani and congratulated him for running a “really smart” campaign. He told his supporters: “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.”
As news of his huge lead broke, well-known progressives flocked to Mamdani’s victory party, with former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon and former Obama adviser/Harold and Kumar actor Kal Penn spotted entering the hall where his supporters could be seen crying and hugging each other.
This win for progressives in New York is a warning shot to the Democrats, after their centre-ground party establishment failed to deliver a win against Trump in 2024 with their last-minute Kamala Harris candidacy.
Basil Smikle, a professor at Columbia’s School of Professional Studies, said: “Voters are not happy with the national party establishment and want to focus on building a movement. I think that’s key here. Mamdani created a movement around his candidacy.”
Mamdani will face a strange field of opponents in the November 4 race for New York City mayor. Not only will he have to beat longshot Republican candidate Curtis Silwa, he will also likely face an independent run from the incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who indicated his intention as Mamdani’s victory became clear.
Adams lost his party’s confidence after he was indicted on a series of bribery and fraud charges relating to his soliciting campaign donations from Turkish property developers. However, President Trump directed federal prosecutors to drop the case against him.
If elected, Mamdani would become New York’s first-ever Muslim mayor, as well as one of its youngest ever office holders.
Speaking on the last day of campaigning, the 33-year-old explained what his win would mean, saying: “I know what our community wants is what every community wants and deserves: safety, equality and respect. But in this city, in this country, you are not given those things; you have to win those things. And one of the clearest ways you win is at the ballot box.”
