NEW YORK CITY — In a historic political upset, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist, has been elected mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim, the first person of South Asian descent, and the youngest mayor in over a century to lead America’s largest city.
According to the Associated Press, Mamdani defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election.
Mamdani, previously a state assemblymember from Queens, entered the race as a long-shot candidate but quickly built a grassroots movement centered on economic justice and affordability. His key promises include fare-free public buses, a freeze on stabilized rents, universal child care, raising the minimum wage by 2030, and increasing taxes on the wealthiest 1% and major corporations to fund social programs.
A vocal critic of President Donald Trump, Mamdani has pledged to resist federal pressure and defend New York’s autonomy, even as Trump’s administration has repeatedly threatened to cut funding to the city.
Mamdani’s campaign drew enormous youth support and national attention, with thousands of volunteers and endorsements from major progressive figures helping him secure a 12-point victory in the Democratic primary earlier this year.
While his victory represents a generational and ideological shift for the city, Mamdani faces significant challenges — from skepticism over his ability to deliver on his bold agenda to managing tensions over his stance on Israel and Gaza, which critics say has polarized parts of the electorate.
Still, his win marks a new political era for New York City, signaling the growing influence of progressive movements and the power of grassroots organizing in reshaping America’s urban politics.
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