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Zohran Mamdani S Victory In New York Provides A Major Lesson For Democ

Bonisiwe Shabane
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zohran mamdani s victory in new york provides a major lesson for democ

In a blow to the Democratic Party establishment, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and a state assemblyman from Queens, all but secured a victory in the New York Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday. (The race may not be called until next week due to ranked choice voting procedures, but his main competitor, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has already conceded.) There are a number of factors that explain Mamdani’s decisive lead. He radiates charisma that even his rivals can’t help but comment on. He uses social media with adroitness not seen perhaps since Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s first run for Congress. He had a jaw-dropping ground game, an army of happy warriors who swarmed the city canvassing for months and helped turn him from a little-known lawmaker in New York into a candidate with national... Mamdani’s socialism is key to understanding his policy ideas — and their appeal. But none of this would have come together had it not been for Mamdani’s central vision: a campaign laser-focused on the “crisis of affordability” in New York City and driven by hugely ambitious policy... Mamdani has not yet won the general election, but his insurgent campaign still has lessons for a party that has failed to find its voice on economic policy at a time of plummeting trust... As establishment Democrats are casting about for ways to restore their tattered brand, Mamdani is showing how the left can make economic populism the centerpiece of political campaigns and wrest it back from the...

But it requires the willingness to be seen as polarizing, and the confidence to try to persuade the electorate. In a remarkable upset, progressive State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. Early polls showed Mamdani starting his campaign with around 1% support. Just six weeks before the June 24 election, his support was only at 11%, while Cuomo led with 49%. Three separate polls, conducted by Yale/YouGov, Marist College, and the Manhattan Institute within two weeks of the election, still showed Cuomo ahead by 12 points or more. Mamdani won the primary as the clear leader with 56% of the votes, totaling 545,334 votes.

His campaign claimed that this was “the most votes any Democratic primary candidate has received in 36 years.” Cuomo received 44%, or 428,530 votes. Although NYC is the largest city in the U.S., this election was not on a national stage. Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist, summarized it well: “Communicating in a Democratic primary in New York City is very different from communicating in a swing district in Iowa.” For example, the white population makes... Nevertheless, a quick look at his initial support and his victory sharply contrasts with Vice President Kamala Harris’s initial support and loss. In roughly the same amount of time before Election Day for both Harris and Mamdani, Harris was 2% behind Donald Trump according to a New York Times/Siena College poll, and Mamdani was 38% behind... Mamdani won despite performing poorly with low-income voters, losing the majority of Black voters and criticizing Israel while showing sympathy for the Gaza Palestinians.

All three conditions should have led to a Democratic candidate losing. 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. Lecturer in Political Theory and Philosophy, Newcastle University Daniel Hutton Ferris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic... Newcastle University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, has been elected as New York City’s mayor. He became the first New York mayoral candidate to win more than 1 million votes since 1969, and looks set to secure over 50% of the total vote. With almost all of the votes counted, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo seems to have been backed by 41.6% of voters. Republican Curtis Sliwa has secured just 7%. Forwarded this email? Sign up for free to have it sent directly to your inbox.

NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI ON ELECTION NIGHT. (MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO VIA GETTY IMAGES) The Democratic primary was on June 24, and — it looks like we could have a socialist mayor. We need to talk about that. Thanks for reading!

The Democrats have spoken: Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist Assemblymember from Queens, will be their nominee in November’s mayoral election—a result made clear when former governor Andrew Cuomo conceded on election night. City Comptroller Brad Lander, emerging from the party’s progressive technocrat wing, was the only other significant candidate left, his base overlaps and his mutual endorsement with Mamdani ensures an easy majority for the frontrunner... Democrat Zohran Mamdani's historic NYC mayoral victory marks a significant political realignment. His 24-minute victory speech outlined principles that political analysts say transcend traditional party lines—lessons about organizing, messaging, and connecting with working-class voters that both Democrats and Republicans must study. Zohran Mamdani delivered a 24-minute victory speech to supporters in Brooklyn after his projected win in the 2025 New York City mayoral election, marking a watershed moment in American urban politics. The Democratic candidate, running explicitly as a democratic socialist and Muslim candidate, toppled the Cuomo political dynasty and defeated the conventional wisdom that working-class voters would reject his unapologetic platform.

“Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands, my friends. We have toppled a political dynasty,” Mamdani declared to a roaring crowd of supporters who had invested more than 100,000 volunteer hours into the campaign. His victory represents not just a personal triumph but a comprehensive rejection of establishment politics, according to the candidate’s own framing. Mamdani positioned his win as a mandate for a fundamentally different approach to governance—one that centers working people and rejects what he characterized as politics serving “only the few.” Mamdani’s campaign succeeded against opponents with vastly greater financial resources by maintaining unwavering message discipline.

His victory speech crystallized a single, repeated promise: making New York “a city we can afford.” NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this bell ringer activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about? In a stunning upset, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Final results won't be official for several days, but his win has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party.

To discuss Mamdani's win and what comes next, Amna Nawaz spoke with Errol Lewis, political anchor for Spectrum News NY1 and host of the Inside City Hall program. News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here. Media literacy: How do various media sources frame Mamdani’s win differently, and what factors (such as political bias, target audience) might influence their coverage? Watch the short video below for an overview of Zohran Mamdani’s and Andrew Cuomo’s positions on key issues affecting New York City.

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