Zohran Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo in NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary, advances to general election; could become first Muslim, Indian-American to hold post

NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani has officially secured victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, with a final vote count on Tuesday confirming his upset win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He now advances to the general election.

Since Mamdani took a decisive lead following the polls closing a week ago and narrowly missed the 50 per cent of the vote required to prevent a second count under the city's ranked choice voting system, his victory had been anticipated, news agency Associated Press reported.

If a voter's favorite candidate withdraws from the race, the method permits their alternative preferences to be taken into consideration.

In the general election, Mamdani, who announced his victory on the evening of the June 24 primary, will compete against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Jim Walden.

On the evening of the primary on June 24, Cuomo admitted defeat, but he is still debating whether to run on an independent ticket in the general election.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who is 33 years old and a member of the state Assembly, was almost unknown when he ran for office with a daring list of populist policies.

However, as the elder, more moderate Democrat attempted to recover from the sexual harassment crisis that forced his departure four years ago, he created a dynamic campaign that ran circles around Cuomo.

The political world was rocked by the results even before they were confirmed.

Mamdani's campaign, which aimed to reduce living expenses, says it has discovered a new path for Democrats who have occasionally seemed lost during President Donald Trump's ascent to power.

The Democratic establishment has been cautious in its attitude to Mamdani.

Although many of its major players praised his campaign, they don't appear prepared to fully support the young progressive. For some in the party, his previous criticisms of law enforcement, use of the word "genocide" to describe the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, and designation as a "democratic socialist" are like landmines.

Mamdani would be the first mayor of Indian American descent and the first Muslim in the city if elected. He would be among its youngest as well.

Mamdani has already given Republicans a fresh line of attack. Ahead of important elections later this year and next, Trump and other GOP figures have started to take aim at Mamdani, portraying him as the pinnacle of socialist excess.

According to Syracuse University political science professor Grant Reeher, "I want this guy to win if I'm a Republican." "Because I want to be able to compare and contrast my campaign as a Republican with the notion that the Democratic party is in this position in a national election."

The ranked choice voting system in New York City enables voters to rank up to five candidates on their ballots. A candidate is declared the winner of the race if more than 50% of voters select them as their first choice.

On the night of the primary, no candidate was able to clear that hurdle; therefore, the ranked-choice voting method took over. On July 15, the board is expected to certify the election.

Since joining the state Assembly in 2021, Mamdani has described his lack of experience as a possible strength.

In exchange for taxes on the wealthy, his campaign promised free city buses, free child care, government-run grocery shops, a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, and more.

His plan has been criticized for being politically unfeasible.

Cuomo launched a campaign that focused on his wealth of experience, positioning himself as the one contender who could turn around a city that had gotten out of hand.

He prioritized fighting antisemitism during the campaign and relied more on his well-known brand and successful fundraising effort than on engaging with voters.

He denied any misconduct when confronted with the sexual harassment accusations that brought an end to his term as governor, arguing that the issue was motivated by politics and that voters were prepared to move on.

Ahead of a procedural deadline to do so, Cuomo did not take his name off the November ballot last week. He has stated that he is still unsure about whether to run for government.

Adams is an independent candidate in the November election, despite still being a Democrat. After being seriously hurt by his now-dismissed federal bribery case, he withdrew from the Democratic primary in April.

In the days following Mamdani's declaration of victory, he rekindled his reelection campaign, despite having done little before. He referred to it as a contest between a candidate with a "blue collar" and one with a "silver spoon."