The New York City mayoral election, held on November 4, 2025, saw Democrat Zohran Mamdani secure a victory with 50.4% of the vote. He edged out Republican activist Curtis Sliwa and former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo. This election was marked by the highest voter turnout in decades. Mamdani will make history as the first Muslim and the first representative of the South Asian community to serve as Mayor of New York, and he will also become the youngest mayor since 1892. Read on new-york-yes.com to find out how he managed to take power in New York, bypassing seasoned political heavyweights.
A Political Storm in New York
In the early 2020s, New York politics was turbulent, but no one expected that by 2025, the city would enter the most unpredictable mayoral election in a decade. The 2021 winner, Eric Adams, seemed headed for a stable term, but a series of scandals turned everything upside down.
In 2024–2025, the Adams administration became the focus of high-profile investigations—ranging from bribery to illegal campaign contributions. Despite his denials, criminal charges were a major blow, and his approval ratings plummeted to a record low of 26%. Even after federal prosecutors dropped all suspicions, trust never returned.
Amidst the scandals, Democrats prepared for ranked-choice voting. Then, the unexpected happened: Andrew Cuomo, who had resigned in 2021, re-entered the race. He immediately jumped into the lead. Adams, meanwhile, sought to avoid defeat and announced he would run as an Independent.
But the biggest sensation was yet to come.
On June 24, progressive politician Zohran Mamdani stunned everyone at the primaries by defeating Cuomo and other favorites. His bold platform (a millionaire’s tax, rent freeze, public housing reform) and an energized youth campaign made him the new face in the race. He won particularly convincingly among Asian voters, whose political influence is rapidly growing.
After his primary loss, Cuomo did not withdraw and remained on the ballot with his own Fight and Deliver line, competing with Adams for the centrist voter. Republican Curtis Sliwa and Independent Jim Walden rounded out the crowded field.
The primaries revealed a shift in public sentiment:
- Housing and the cost of living were the top priorities;
- More Democrats supported limiting aid to Israel;
- Youth and new voters gravitated toward progressive politics.
These changes paved the way for Mamdani. New York headed into the general election with four strong candidates—Mamdani, Adams, Cuomo, and Sliwa. For the first time in a long time, the result was unpredictable. A split among centrists could be the decisive factor.
Tumultuous Election Campaigns
Following Zohran Mamdani’s primary victory in 2025, the city plunged into a chaotic campaign frenzy. Business elites and some politicians began to favor the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Independent candidate Jim Walden called for a united front against Mamdani and ultimately withdrew from the race.
Donald Trump’s support made the campaign even more explosive. He threatened Mamdani and hinted at federal intervention. Parallel rumors suggested Adams might get a position in the Trump administration in exchange for dropping out. In late September, Adams indeed withdrew, stating that Democrats had abandoned him for Mamdani.
Republican Curtis Sliwa refused to drop out and changed his campaign tone, positioning himself as a less staunchly Republican candidate. Andrew Cuomo, running as an Independent, tried to hold on to centrists and criticized Mamdani, but his sudden endorsement by Trump and Elon Musk just before the election caused a negative backlash.
The campaign was marred by numerous scandals: Adams faced several lawsuits from former high-ranking NYPD officials, and Cuomo attacked Mamdani for living in a rent-stabilized apartment, which experts framed as part of the broader discussion on housing policy. The New York Knicks team even sent Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter over his use of a stylized team logo in his advertising.
Mamdani’s name was often mispronounced by both his rivals and political allies—linguists explained this as phonological assimilation. Mamdani called the intentional distortion of his name a manifestation of “othering.”
After his primary win, the wave of criticism took on an Islamophobic character—coming from both Republicans and some Democrats. There were mentions of 9/11, threats of denaturalization, hints of illegal status, and comparisons to terrorists. Many of these statements were refuted or apologized for.
Controversies also flared up regarding candidates’ stance on LGBTQ+ rights. Cuomo was accused of using homophobic tactics from his father’s past campaigns, while he, in turn, attacked Mamdani over his dual Ugandan citizenship.
Two official televised debates were held in the general election, allowing three candidates—Mamdani, Sliwa, and Cuomo—to participate.
Election Results: The Story of a Major Political Shift in 2025
On the day of the 2025 general election, New York felt like a city bracing for a historic decision. Just hours after the polls closed, it became clear that the country was watching an unprecedented event. At 9:34 PM Eastern Time, the Associated Press declared Zohran Mamdani the winner.
Voter turnout was record-breaking: about two million votes, with over 700,000 cast early—a turnout not seen in New York since the late 1960s. Mamdani gathered over a million votes, echoing the achievement of John Lindsay in 1969.
The results map looked like a mosaic of new political sentiments.
Mamdani decisively took Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, while Staten Island, traditionally more conservative, was a stronghold for Cuomo. The progressive candidate won over 61% of Black voters and 57% of Latino voters, while Cuomo had the advantage among voters in predominantly white areas.
Results differed sharply across generations. Mamdani performed brilliantly among young people—78% in the 18–29 age group and 66% in the 30–44 group. In contrast, Cuomo dominated voters over 45.
Staten Island was the only borough where Republican Curtis Sliwa managed to come close to second place, although Mamdani still held the lead there. Mamdani garnered his strongest support in Brooklyn, where he confidently crossed the 56% mark. Cuomo gained votes in the more conservative parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island but lost where Democrats dominated.
Interestingly, voters who had recently moved to New York gave Mamdani a record 81%, while his support among native New Yorkers was significantly lower. He was also the favorite among those voting for the first time.
Jewish communities predominantly voted for Cuomo, who gained a majority among both secular and Orthodox voters.
New Mayor, New Course
Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat, called for unity among supporters, and noted that his result on the independent line surpassed his father’s achievement. He did not call Mamdani. Commentators called this the end of his political career.
Curtis Sliwa warning that he would fight against socialism and the weakening of the police. After his speech, he did call Mamdani with congratulations.
Mamdani spoke at 11:30 PM with a speech full of socialist references—from Eugene Debs to LaGuardia. He sharply distanced himself from centrists and declared that the Democratic Party must dare to be great. Of Cuomo, he said:
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo nothing but the best in his personal life, but let today be the last time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that refuses the many and answers only the few.”
Mamdani’s victory gained international attention; he was congratulated by British progressives and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Business leaders reacted differently: Jamie Dimon promised to cooperate, while others were critical. Politicians from several states began urging businesses to relocate to them, and President Trump once again used the outcome in his statements.
In January 2026, Mamdani will become the first Muslim mayor of New York and one of the youngest in the city’s history.
During his victory speech, he spoke about rent freezes, free buses, universal childcare, combating the cost-of-living crisis, hiring teachers, NYCHA reform, and creating a Department of Public Safety. He specifically promised to protect immigrants, the Jewish and Muslim communities, and LGBTQ+ people, and condemned Donald Trump.
“This new era will be an era of relentless improvement. I will wake up every morning with one goal: to make this city better for you than it was the day before. In this moment of political darkness, New York will be a light,” said Zohran Mamdani.