University of Kwazulu-Natal

We Toppled Our Political Dynasty Decoding Zohran Mamdani S Victory

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
we toppled our political dynasty decoding zohran mamdani s victory

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city's youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on Jan. 1. Democratic U.S.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill has been elected governor of New Jersey. The four-term member of Congress centered her campaign on her biography as a Navy helicopter pilot and former prosecutor who would stand up to President Donald Trump. She will be New Jersey's second female governor. Read the full transcript of Zohran Mamdani’s powerful and historic victory speech after defeating Andrew Cuomo to become New York City’s next mayor, November 4, 2025. ZOHRAN MAMDANI: Thank you, my friends!

The sun may have set over our city this evening. But as Eugene Debs once said, “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.” For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and the well-connected that power does not belong in their hands. Fingers bruised from lifting boxes on the warehouse floor, palms calloused from delivery bike handlebars, knuckles scarred with kitchen burns. These are not hands that have been allowed to hold power. And yet over the last 12 months, you have dared to reach for something greater.

Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a political regime that has been forced... As we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few. Supporters and high-profile New York Democrats gathered in Brooklyn to celebrate New York’s first Muslim mayor

At Zohran Mamdani’s election night party in downtown Brooklyn on Tuesday night, hundreds of his supporters erupted in cheers and applause as the democratic socialist from Queens was elected the next mayor of New... “I’m ecstatic!” “This is life-changing!” “I’m lost for words!” were just some of the refrains from the crowd as they celebrated history in the making: New York has its first Muslim mayor. The 34-year-old state assembly member won with more than 50% of the vote, defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Supporters began arriving and gathering at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre around 9pm ET, when the polls in New York closed. Many attenders were seen wearing Mamdani campaign merchandise such as baseball caps, beanies and T-shirts. Democrat Zohran Mamdani secured a landmark victory in the New York City Mayoral election on Tuesday (Nov 4), becoming the city's first Indian-American to win the race.

Democrat Zohran Mamdani secured a landmark victory in the New York City Mayoral election on Tuesday (Nov 4), becoming the city's first Indian-American to win the race. Speaking after his win, Mamdani declared, “We have toppled a political dynasty.” He added that today marks the dawn of a better day for humanity after he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani has also become the first Muslim leader and the youngest mayor in the city. He will take the office on January 1, 2026. “The sun may have set over our city this evening, but as Eugene Debs once said, ‘I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity,’” he said.

“And yet, over the last 12 months, you have dared to reach for something greater. Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it.” “The future is in our hands,” he said, as the crowd cheered. Mamdani also directly addressed US President Donald Trump, his foe, in his speech. “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up,” he said. “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”

Zohran Mamdani celebrated his victory over Andrew Cuomo, the three-term former governor and son of a governor, after securing the mayoralty of New York City. Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker who identifies as a democratic socialist, becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor. Mamdani delivered an unflinching attack on US President Donald Trump during his victory speech, portraying his triumph as a new “dawn” for New York City and a turning of the political tide. “We have toppled a political dynasty,” Mamdani said. “I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life. But let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page.”

“After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him… In this moment of political darkness, New York will... In a full-throttle attack, he aimed his guns at the Republican leader, saying, “Donald Trump, since I know you are watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.” The mayoral race, which saw the highest turnout in more than half a century, reflected voters’ concerns over cost-of-living issues, housing shortages, and economic inequality. Mamdani defeated former Governor Cuomo and Republican nominee Sliwa with 50.4 per cent of the vote to Cuomo’s 41.6 per cent, amounting to 1,036,051 votes versus 854,995. Sliwa received 7.1 per cent, or 146,137 votes. Democrat Zohran Mamdani has won the race for New York City mayor, the Associated Press projects.

When sworn in on January 1, 2026, he will become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. Mamdani defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing to him in the Democratic primary. Cuomo, who received a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump despite their once-contentious relationship, failed to draw enough Republican support to mount a serious challenge. In his victory speech, Mamdani referenced Cuomo, saying he doesn't plan to mention his name in the future. "Friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," he said.

"I wish Andrew Cuomo the best in private life." New York City just elected Zohran Kwame Mamdani as mayor, a first for a Muslim, South Asian, and Ugandan-born New Yorker, and a generational shift in the city’s politics. His victory speech was short, sharp, and full of signals: part movement manifesto, part governing blueprint. Here’s a decoded read of the speech, his path to power, and policy takeaways relevant to India’s urban future. “My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.” Mamdani cast the result as a referendum on entrenched power, explicitly contrasting an organizing-first campaign with machine politics and celebrity comebacks. The framing matters: he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo after first shocking the establishment in the Democratic primary.

Mamdani invoked Jawaharlal Nehru’s “A moment comes in history…” to situate his win within a broader arc of democratic renewal, immigrant aspiration, and postcolonial self-belief. For many South Asians in the diaspora, that line signified continuity between their histories of independence and today’s struggles for representation and economic dignity. Another refrain, “turn the volume up”, was a call to keep the organizing muscle active after the confetti. It also answered national critics head-on, promising to govern with the same boldness that won the race. Mamdani’s biography is part of the message. Born in Kampala; raised in Queens; son of scholar Mahmood Mamdani (Gujarati Muslim, Bombay-born, Uganda-raised) and filmmaker Mira Nair (born Rourkela, raised Bhubaneswar).

The campaign’s cadence, immigrant-proud, working-class-first, comes straight from that hyphenated upbringing. Updated on: November 5, 2025 / 11:32 AM EST / CBS New York Mamdani promised to bring New York City into an age of "relentless improvement" as he claimed victory in the mayoral race late Tuesday night. He said his win was one for the working people of New York and reiterated his campaign promises on affordability. "Let the words we've spoken together, the dreams we've dreamt together, become the agenda we deliver together," Mamdani said. "New York, this power, it's yours.

This city belongs to you. Thank you." To watch his full victory speech, click here.

People Also Search

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Zohran Mamdani Has Been Elected Mayor

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city's youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office...

Rep. Mikie Sherrill Has Been Elected Governor Of New Jersey.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill has been elected governor of New Jersey. The four-term member of Congress centered her campaign on her biography as a Navy helicopter pilot and former prosecutor who would stand up to President Donald Trump. She will be New Jersey's second female governor. Read the full transcript of Zohran Mamdani’s powerful and historic victory speech after defeating Andrew Cuomo to become Ne...

The Sun May Have Set Over Our City This Evening.

The sun may have set over our city this evening. But as Eugene Debs once said, “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.” For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and the well-connected that power does not belong in their hands. Fingers bruised from lifting boxes on the warehouse floor, palms calloused from delivery bike handlebars, knuck...

Tonight, Against All Odds, We Have Grasped It. The Future

Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a political regime that has been forced... As we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few. Supporters and high-pr...

At Zohran Mamdani’s Election Night Party In Downtown Brooklyn On

At Zohran Mamdani’s election night party in downtown Brooklyn on Tuesday night, hundreds of his supporters erupted in cheers and applause as the democratic socialist from Queens was elected the next mayor of New... “I’m ecstatic!” “This is life-changing!” “I’m lost for words!” were just some of the refrains from the crowd as they celebrated history in the making: New York has its first Muslim mayo...