Good morning from the New York City Board of Elections, where the staff is preparing to run the Ranked Choice Voting at noon tomorrow after no candidate received 50% in the first round of counting. While the official results are not yet available, it is clear that 33-year-old Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and the rest of the crowded primary field to be the Democratic nominee for mayor in November.
Mamdani, a three-term state assemblyman, won 43.5% of the first-place vote compared to Cuomo’s 36.3%. Speaking to his supporters at a victory party, Mamdani offered, “We have given our city permission to believe again. I pledge to you that we will remake this great city, not in my image, but in the image of every New Yorker who has only known struggle. In our New York, the power belongs to the people."
Mamdani's victory challenges the status quo of the New York Democratic Party, which is essential as Democrats look for a path forward following their devastating losses last year. The local dynamics reflect the broader divide amongst Democrats across the region—an inexperienced, young socialist endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez against a ‘mainstream’ former governor endorsed by the Clintons and Jim Clyburn. It was a race few saw coming, especially as much of the establishment supported Cuomo, including so many willing to invest millions in him from across New York’s establishment.
Congratulations to @ZohranKMamdani, our Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City!
His was a campaign powered by the people, and the people made their voices heard. New Yorkers are ready for a city we can all afford. Now it is time to bring our city together and win! pic.twitter.com/yjB6sj8lyR
— Tish James (@TishJames) June 25, 2025
Standing firm against a rising tide, one New Yorker was unwilling to buy into Cuomo, and that was Tish James. James spoke loudly and proudly at the Working Families closing ceremony declaring, “We cannot engage in amnesia, we must remember the past, we’ve gotta move past it, which is why we cannot rank Andrew Cuomo!” James turned out not to be alone. She was joined by hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who embraced Mamdani’s Happy Warrior message.
Mamdani’s optimistic message—centered on affordability and increasing city services—resonated with a wide swath of racially and economically diverse voters who have traditionally made up winning Democratic coalitions. Mamdani’s platform was simple and spoke to New Yorkers’ most pressing concerns—free buses, rent freezes for stabilized apartments, taxes on the wealthy, free childcare, and $8 halal.
Mamdani, who would be New York City’s first Muslim mayor, was also able to overcome allegations of antisemitism in the city that is home to the largest Jewish community anywhere in the world outside Tel Aviv. Give an assist here to New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who cross-endorsed Mamdani and appeared regularly with him over the last weeks of the campaign. Lander finished a distant third in the election day polling and later appeared with Mamdani at his victory celebration.
We live in the most expensive city in the United States. Running on a bold economic agenda to lower costs and make life easier for working people was at the heart of our success.
Great to sit down with @kwelkernbc on @MeetThePress this morning. pic.twitter.com/APHLxh0LDb
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 29, 2025
Business is not happy. Kathy Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City, believes Mamdani will have to moderate if he is to be a successful mayor, saying, “This is a capitalist city with a historic relationship with Israel. Should he win the primary, he will have to deal with that. Or there will be a serious surge to try and prevent him from becoming mayor.” Dan Loeb, an investor and hedge fund manager, posted on Twitter, “It’s officially hot commie summer.” Nonetheless, Wylde is convening a meeting for business leaders and the Democratic nominee later in July.
This turmoil has clearly energized Mayor Eric Adams, who launched his reelection campaign on the steps of City Hall. Adams came out swinging, calling Mamdani a “snake oil salesman” in an interview on “Fox & Friends” and declaring, “Let’s be clear: They have a record of tweets. I have a record on the streets.” Will Adams' campaign be the bulwark that businesses want to stop Mamdani?
And whither Andrew Cuomo—who has the “Fight and Deliver” ballot line—and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa?
What will Governor Kathy Hochul do? On Election Night, she posted a friendly tweet, but she has not joined national leaders, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders or local officials, including Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the influential chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Committee, in endorsing Mamdani.
Hochul continues to be a leading moderate in the Democratic Party, leading on public safety, fighting for no new taxes, and more recently, nuclear power. Those are just three issues seemingly at odds with much of Mamdani’s left-wing base, mainly since many of his campaign promises rely on increased revenue from a tax hike on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
The New York GOP is also trying to tie Hochul to Mamdani, hoping to peel away some of her support from moderate Democrats and independents. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) posted on Twitter, “Paging @GovKathyHochul: do you endorse @ZohranKMamdani for New York City Mayor?” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) joined in, offering, “Hochul is the leader of the NY Democrat Party and fully embraced the antisemitic, Communist nominee. She owns this catastrophe.”
As Republicans nationwide look to make support for Mamdani a wedge issue, pressure will only grow on Hochul—and Democratic Congressional Leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries—to take a stand. In the meantime, a growing grassroots movement in New York City of Mamdani fans will be watching.
THIS JUST IN is a Monday-morning round-up by Jack O'Donnell of O'Donnell & Associates in Albany, NY, a government affairs office.
