Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral election after energizing younger voters with give attention to affordability

Zohran Mamdani can be New York Metropolis’s 111th mayor, CBS Information tasks, capping a intently watched marketing campaign through which the little-known state assemblyman energized voters together with his give attention to making America’s largest metropolis extra inexpensive.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist defeated Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an unbiased after dropping a Democratic major that he had initially entered because the clear front-runner. The mayoral race drew the eye of President Trump, who endorsed Cuomo the night time earlier than the election and threatened to withhold federal funds to New York Metropolis beneath a Mayor Mamdani.

Mamdani’s message centered round the price of dwelling, energizing a coalition of younger and progressive voters, whilst critics questioned his lack of expertise and raised considerations about his stance on Israel. He pledged to freeze rents on rent-stabilized residences and lift taxes on the rich to pay for a number of latest companies, like free buses and city-run grocery shops.

When he assumes workplace, Mamdani will make historical past as the town’s first Muslim mayor. At 34, he’ll even be one of many metropolis’s youngest mayors, however not the youngest ever: That distinction belongs to Hugh J. Grant, who was 31 when he was elected to his first time period in 1889.

Click on right here for full New York Metropolis election outcomes. 

Mamdani guarantees “relentless enchancment”

Mamdani promised to carry New York Metropolis into an age of “relentless enchancment” as he claimed victory within the mayoral race late Tuesday night time.

He mentioned his win was one for the working individuals of New York and reiterated his marketing campaign guarantees on affordability.

“Let the phrases we have spoken collectively, the desires we have dreamt collectively, grow to be the agenda we ship collectively,” Mamdani mentioned. “New York, this energy, it is yours. This metropolis belongs to you. Thanks.”

Mamdani’s background

Mamdani was born in Uganda and moved to New York Metropolis when he was 7. He attended the elite Bronx Excessive Faculty of Science earlier than heading off to Bowdoin Faculty. 

In 2018, he turned an American citizen. 

His dad and mom are political science professor Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. Mamdani is married to artist Rama Duawaji. They reside in Queens, the place Mamdani has served as state assemblyman since 2021, representing Astoria, Astoria Heights and Ditmars-Steinway in Queens. 

Mamdani’s insurance policies

Mamdani centered his marketing campaign round decreasing the price of dwelling. He promised to freeze the hire for the town’s rent-stabilized items. He has additionally pledged to offer free bus service and to open city-owned grocery shops in every borough. Mamdani additionally says he desires to construct 200,000 inexpensive housing items. 

To pay for his proposals, Mamdani has mentioned he would elevate taxes on firms and on high earners by 2%, however he’ll want the assistance of Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to do it. 

His candidacy was enthusiastically embraced by distinguished fellow progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He finally obtained the endorsement of some high Democrats together with Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

Mamdani’s place on Israel drew scrutiny over the course of the marketing campaign. He condemned the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist assaults on Israel, but in addition criticized the Israeli authorities’s response, calling the struggle in Gaza a genocide. Israel mentioned his feedback have been “shameful.”

Mamdani says, whereas he helps Israel’s proper to exist, he is not going to say it ought to exist as a Jewish state. 

“I’d not acknowledge any state’s proper to exist with a system of hierarchy on the premise of race or faith,” he mentioned within the candidates’ second and last debate.

He additionally mentioned critics have wrongly accused him of extra excessive statements.

“I’ve by no means, not as soon as, spoken in assist of world jihad. That isn’t one thing that I’ve mentioned. And that continues to be ascribed to me. And albeit, I feel a lot of it has to do with that I’m the primary Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of profitable this election,” Mamdani mentioned over the past debate. 

Mamdani and the NYPD

Mamdani got here beneath withering criticism for his previous remarks concerning the NYPD. He beforehand known as for disbanding the Strategic Response Group, which was the identical unit that responded to the Midtown workplace taking pictures in July. He has since walked that again, saying he was against utilizing that unit to answer protests.

“I’m not defunding the police,” Mamdani mentioned this summer season. “I’m not operating to defund the police.” 

In an October interview with Fox Information, Mamdani once more apologized for remarks he made in regards to the NYPD in 2020, when he known as the division “racist” and a “risk to public security” amid nationwide protests after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. 

“We used to ask officers to give attention to severe crimes. Now we’re asking them to focus additionally on the psychological well being disaster, to focus additionally on homelessness,” Mamdani mentioned final month. “Completely I am going to apologize to law enforcement officials proper right here. As a result of that is the apology that I have been sharing with many rank and file officers. And I apologize due to the truth that I am trying to work with these officers, and I do know that these officers, these women and men who serve within the NYPD, they put their lives on the road each single day.”   

Mamdani additionally just lately mentioned he would ask Jessica Tisch to remain on as police commissioner.