Newsweek, June 2025
Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary is more than just a stunning political upset. A self-described democratic socialist who ran on taxing the rich and making the city affordable, Mamdani defeated disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded, familiar and powerful figure backed by billionaire donors and establishment Democrats alike.
Mamdani took such a commanding lead over Cuomo on Tuesday that the former governor, who was seeking a comeback after resigning in disgrace over a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the race early. The ultimate outcome may not be known for days due to the city’s ranked choice voting system. He will now face off against incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in November’s election—and Cuomo could still reenter the race. Still, Mamdani, a progressive upstart with a history of pro-Palestinian activism, is on course to become the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city.
His victory is sure to reverberate through the Democratic Party at a time when it remains ideologically divided about its future after losing the White House in November.
