Mamdini Defeats Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Primary as Former Governor Concedes

Mamdani, a democratic socialist from Queens, clinched 43.5% of the vote, overtaking Cuomo’s 36.4%. City Comptroller Brad Lander followed with 11.3%, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams received 4.1%. The remaining 4.6% of votes were split among lesser-known candidates.

Cuomo Concedes, Future Candidacy Still in Question

Just after 10 p.m., Cuomo offered a brief but gracious concession speech, congratulating Mamdani on his unexpected win. Though he retains a potential path to the general election via the “Forward for New York” ballot line, Cuomo declined to confirm whether he would pursue an independent campaign in November.

“This is Zohran’s night,” Cuomo told supporters. “I respect the voters’ decision and wish the best for our city moving forward.”

From Underdog to Front-Runner: A Movement-Driven Campaign

Mamdani’s unlikely triumph was fueled by a grassroots, youth-led coalition advocating for progressive change. His campaign’s central promises included expanded public housing, fare-free transit, and a localized Green New Deal—resonating powerfully with working-class and marginalized voters.

“This wasn’t just an electoral victory,” Mamdani proclaimed at his celebration rally in Jackson Heights. “This was a triumph for a movement—for everyone who believed a different city was possible.”

He added, “They said a Muslim immigrant’s son could never be mayor. Tonight, we proved them wrong.”

A Historic and Courageous Candidacy

If elected in November, Mamdani would become the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history. Throughout the campaign, he spoke candidly about facing discrimination and threats, yet remained committed to inclusion, solidarity, and justice for all communities.

“This city thrives when we rise together—Muslim, Jewish, Black, Latino, working-class,” he said. “We built this victory together.”

His outreach included extensive visits to local mosques and major Eid al-Adha gatherings, where he championed the message: “Safety and dignity aren’t handed to you—you organize and win them. And we won them together.”

Progressives Celebrate: “This Was a Rebellion”

Support from progressive icons helped propel Mamdani’s campaign. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed him early, wrote on social media: “Billionaires and lobbyists spent millions against us. And we still won.”

Political strategist Trip Yang called the result “the biggest upset in NYC politics in a generation,” while Columbia University’s Basil Smikle described the moment as “a voter-led rebellion against entrenched power.”

Coalition Politics Triumphs

At Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’s Brooklyn campaign event, supporters remained upbeat despite her fourth-place finish. Adams had urged voters to back a progressive slate that included Mamdani and Lander.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told the crowd, “Your integrity and unity helped take down a powerful political machine. That’s a victory for all of us.”

Adams’s team later hailed the result as “a win for coalition politics and for communities long ignored by the status quo.”

Looking Ahead to November

With the primary concluded, Mamdani heads into the general election as the clear favorite—unless Cuomo decides to return to the fray as an independent candidate.

For now, Mamdani’s supporters are savoring a night that redefined what’s possible in New York City politics.

“This is the America we dream of,” wrote commentator Wajahat Ali. “A Muslim son of immigrants may become mayor of NYC because he backed a Jewish candidate and a Black leader—and they supported him back. That’s the New York we must fight for.”