Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating independent candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo in a historic victory.
Mamdani secured more than 50% of the vote, while Cuomo finished second with just over 40%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailed in third with around 7%.
The win marks a series of firsts for the city: Mamdani becomes New York’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor of South Asian descent, and the first born in Africa.
His election means that two of the world’s most influential global cities — London and New York — are now led by Muslim mayors.
Mamdani received overwhelming backing from Muslim voters — nearly nine in ten supported him, according to the AP Voter Poll — though they made up only about 4% of the city’s electorate.
Supporters said they were proud that, despite the Islamophobic attacks levelled at Mamdani during the campaign, New Yorkers chose not to be swayed by hate.
Faith, identity and representation
During his speech, Mamdani said that “no more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election.”
He said: “Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it.
“The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.
“New York, tonight you have delivered. A mandate for change. A mandate for a new kind of politics. A mandate for a city we can afford. And a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that,” he added.
The 33-year-old campaigned openly on his Muslim and immigrant identity, was unapologetically pro-Palestinian during the campaign and often appeared in traditional South Asian attire. His authenticity drew both admiration and vitriol.
During the campaign, Mamdani faced online backlash after being photographed eating biryani with his hands.
Mamdani’s election was part of a historic night for Muslim representation in US politics.
In Virginia, Democratic candidate Ghazala Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race, becoming the first Indian American and the first Muslim to hold statewide office in the state.
