Far-left Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral election Tuesday, becoming the city’s first socialist mayor and immediately using his victory speech to attack President Donald Trump, who had warned the city would face dire consequences under Mamdani’s leadership.
The Associated Press and NY1 projected the 34-year-old Democrat as the winner roughly 40 minutes after polls closed. With nearly all precincts reporting, Mamdani held only a narrow majority of 50.4%, while independent candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo trailed with 42%. Republican Curtis Sliwa finished at 7.1%, according to the city Board of Elections.
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, declared his win a mandate for sweeping left-wing change and used part of his speech to taunt Trump, who had endorsed Cuomo and said he might withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani won.
“So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up,” Mamdani said, prompting cheers from supporters.
Trump reacted to the speech on Truth Social, writing, “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”
The Uganda-born politician ran on a multibillion-dollar agenda of rent freezes, universal childcare, free buses, and city-owned grocery stores — proposals that critics, including business leaders, say would devastate the city’s already strained finances. He also faced scrutiny over past anti-police positions and accusations of antisemitism for his harsh criticism of Israel.
Cuomo, who spent tens of millions on his campaign, conceded the race but said nearly half the city had rejected Mamdani’s agenda. “Almost half of New Yorkers did vote to support a government agenda that makes promises that we know cannot be met,” he said.
Sliwa, conceding earlier in the evening, issued a stark warning: “If you try to implement socialism, if you try to render our police weak and impotent, if you forsake the people’s public safety, we’re not only organizing, but we are mobilizing.”
Some Jewish groups also voiced alarm. The UJA Federation said the mayor-elect holds “core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions.”
Mamdani overcame skepticism from many establishment Democrats; Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed him late, while Sen. Chuck Schumer and former President Barack Obama did not. His proposals face an uncertain future in Albany, where Hochul has already said she will not consider raising taxes.
Turnout was unusually high at roughly 2 million voters — the largest since 1969 — suggesting many New Yorkers viewed the race as a referendum on ideology.
Trump has mocked Mamdani as “my little Communist” and is expected to highlight his victory as proof of the Democratic Party’s radical shift ahead of 2026.
Mamdani will be sworn in on January 1, 2026.
