The New York City Election Board on Tuesday officially declared Zohran Mamdani the winner of the Democratic primary for mayor, paving the way for the 33-year-old politician to become the party’s nominee in the November election against incumbent Eric Adams.
The ranked-choice voting results showed Mamdani secured 56% of the votes in the third round, surpassing the required 50% threshold. Initially a little-known New York state assembly member, Mamdani’s unexpected rise marks a major shift in the city’s political landscape.
As the Democratic nominee, Mamdani will compete against Adams—who, after being indicted on corruption charges and later seeing the case dropped, is now running as an independent candidate.
Reflecting on the primary win in a video shared on X, Mamdani said:
“We always believed victory would come after several rounds of ranked-choice voting. What surprised us was getting more votes in the first round than Adams did across seven rounds in 2021.”
Mamdani’s victory over veteran politician Andrew Cuomo, a moderate who ultimately received 44% of votes, has unsettled some Democrats concerned that his democratic socialist views could become an easy target for Republican criticism.
The day after the primary, President Donald Trump labelled Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and warned he would watch him closely if elected mayor. Trump also suggested he would have Mamdani arrested if he attempted to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
“We don’t need a communist in this country,” Trump remarked. “But if we get one, I’ll be keeping an eye on him for the nation.”
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and is Muslim, responded by emphasising his goal to “win people back to the Democratic Party,” noting he performed well in neighborhoods that previously voted for Trump.
Meanwhile, Cuomo has conceded defeat but has not ruled out re-entering the race as an independent. Mamdani’s other challengers include Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels, and attorney Jim Walden, who is also running as an independent.
The ranked-choice voting system, adopted by New York City in 2021, lets voters rank up to five candidates by preference. Votes are then redistributed through successive rounds of elimination until a candidate crosses the 50% mark.
Looking ahead, Mamdani’s campaign sets the stage for a high-stakes general election, with Adams seeking re-election outside the Democratic fold and Republicans preparing to capitalise on Mamdani’s progressive agenda.
