Muslim Zahran Mamadani Defeats Cuomo and Leads Democrats in New York City Mayor Race
Najiba Jalal – New York
New York State Assemblyman Zahran Mamadani has won the Democratic primary, becoming the party’s official candidate for the New York City mayoral race, outperforming former governor and mayor Andrew Cuomo after a series of intense election rounds and close results.
This shift in the political landscape comes amid declining public confidence in the current administration led by Mayor Adrienne Adams, due to allegations of illegal practices during her term, which has deepened public anger and the desire for real change.
Mamadani, aligned with the democratic socialist movement, succeeded in attracting a broad voter base, particularly among youth and residents of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, leveraging Cuomo’s declining popularity. Cuomo faces allegations of sexual harassment from a former aide, compounded by personal issues following his wife’s request for divorce, significantly weakening his political presence.
A joint poll conducted by Emerson, PIX11, and The Hill on the eve of the voting day indicated a slight lead for Cuomo in the first round of ranked-choice voting, but he faltered in subsequent rounds, leading to Mamadani’s victory after eight rounds.
Mamadani’s win has sparked panic within financial and business circles, with some of Cuomo’s supporters threatening to leave the city if he becomes mayor, signaling the deep rift among factions within the Democratic Party.
As such, Mamadani emerges as the first Democratic candidate of South Asian descent to lead the mayoral race in New York, amidst widespread aspirations for a real break from corruption and nepotism in politics.
