United States

Progressive Zohran Mamdani wins Dem primary for New York mayor

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams did not participate in the primaries. He is running as an independent in the general election. Mamdani, if elected, would be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor

25 June 2025

Zohran Mamdani speaks during a watch party for his primary election, which includes his bid to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming November 2025 election, in New York City, U.S., June 25, 2025. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado

2' min read

Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City on Tuesday night, after Andrew Cuomo suffered a surprising defeat, as the young and promising progressive candidate gained a substantial lead over the more experienced but scandal-scarred former governor.

Although the final outcome of the race will still be decided by a preference vote, Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who was virtually unknown outside political circles a year ago, has a distinct advantage.

In a speech to supporters, Mamdani declared: 'Tonight we have made history. I will be your Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City'.

Cuomo, who was trying to recover from a sexual harassment scandal, told supporters he had called Mamdani to congratulate him. "Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won," Cuomo told supporters.

Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if elected. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams did not participate in the primary. He is running as an independent in the general election. Cuomo also has a chance to run in the general election. "We will look at things and make decisions," Cuomo said.

Unofficial results from the New York Election Commission showed that Mamdani was on more ballots than Cuomo. Mamdani was listed as second choice by tens of thousands more voters than Cuomo. And the number of votes that will be counted in the alternative voting system is set to decrease. The results of the Electoral Commission show that more than 200,000 voters indicated only their first choice, which means that Mamdani's performance in the first round might be enough to cross the 50 per cent threshold.

A national trend?

The final outcome of the race could reveal something about the kind of leader Democrats seek during President Donald Trump's second term.

The vote took place some four years after Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor following a sexual harassment scandal. Yet, Cuomo was the favourite throughout the race due to his deep experience, notoriety, strong political connections and impressive fundraising apparatus.

The progressive wing of the party, meanwhile, had coalesced around Mamdani. A relatively unknown state parliamentarian at the start of the contest, Mamdani gained momentum by campaigning on the high cost of living in the city and gaining the support of two of the country's most prominent progressives, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.

The winner of the primary will face incumbent candidate Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent following the public outcry sparked by his indictment for bribery and subsequent dismissal of the case by Trump's Justice Department. Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of Guardian Angels, will be running in the general election, scheduled for the autumn.

The two main candidates in the mayoral primary - a fresh-faced progressive and an older moderate - well represent the ideological divide in the Democratic Party, although Cuomo's scandal-plagued past adds a unique nuance to the narrative.