NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani led former Governor Andrew Cuomo by a considerable margin in Tuesday night’s Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, putting the youthful liberal upstart in a position to pull off a surprising upset in a contest that will still be decided by a ranked choice count.
Less than two hours after the ballots closed, Cuomo, who was attempting to recover from a sexual harassment scandal, admitted defeat and claimed to have contacted Mamdani to congratulate him.
It’s his night tonight. He deserved it. Cuomo informed supporters that he had won.
After neither Democrat received a clear majority of the vote, a ranked choice tabulation will determine the final result of the contest. With around 90% of the ballots tabulated, Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist member of the state Assembly, had a sizable lead. Additionally, Mamdani received a higher number of votes than Cuomo, which made it harder for Cuomo to overtake him.
Mamdani fans burst into the chorus of “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” as soon as word leaked out of Cuomo’s surrender.
If elected, Mamdani would be the first Indian American and Muslim mayor of the city. Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor, did not attend the primary. He is a candidate for the general election as an independent. Cuomo might possibly run for office in the general election.
Cuomo stated, “We’re going to look at it and make some decisions.”
The final result of the contest may reveal something about the type of leader Democrats want in President Donald Trump’s second term.
About four years have passed since Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor due to a sexual harassment scandal. Despite this, he has maintained his lead throughout the contest because to his extensive expertise, well-known reputation, solid political ties, and formidable fundraising machine.
The party s progressive wing, meanwhile, had coalesced behind Mamdani. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, two of the nation’s leading progressives, endorsed Mamdani, a relatively unknown state legislator at the start of the race, after she ran a shrewd campaign that was laser-focused on the exorbitant cost of living in the city.
Adams, a Democrat who chose to run as an independent in the wake of public outcry over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent drop of the prosecution by Trump’s Justice Department, will be the next opponent for the primary winner. The Guardian Angels’ founder, Republican Curtis Sliwa, will run in the general election this fall. Another possibility is that Cuomo will appear as an independent on the November ballot.
The two front-runners in the mayoral primary—a young progressive and an older moderate—could represent the ideological split within the Democratic Party as a whole, but Cuomo’s scandal-plagued history gives the story a special twist.
In a contest where almost all of the contenders have positioned themselves as the most qualified to oppose Trump’s policies, the other contenders have found it difficult to garner attention.
Comptroller Brad Lander, a liberal city government stalwart, made a splash last week when he was arrested after linking arms with a man federal agents were trying to detain at an immigration court in Manhattan. The effectiveness of that occurrence in reviving a campaign that had been lagging behind Lander was uncertain.
Other contenders include former city comptroller Scott Stringer, hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson, state senator Zellnor Myrie, and city council speaker Adrienne Adams.
It has been difficult to ignore Mamdani’s spirited run.
His army of young canvassers relentlessly knocked on doors throughout the city seeking support. Shop windows displayed posters of his smiling mug. On social media, it would be impossible to avoid watching one of his polished films promoting his ideas of free buses, free childcare, new housing, a higher minimum wage, and more—all of which would be funded by additional taxes on the wealthy.
That youthful enthusiasm was evident Tuesday night as jubilant supporters and cautiously optimistic canvassers lined the streets of Central Brooklyn, generating a party vibe that extended from polling places into the surrounding communities.
Amani Kojo, a 23-year-old first-time voter, encouraged Mamdani canvassers to stay hydrated by giving them iced drink outside his family’s Caribbean pharmacy.
It’s a vibe, and it’s 100 degrees outside. New York City feels alive again, Kojo said, raising a pile of Mamdani pamphlets. Seeing all the people, flyers, and postings on my Instagram throughout the day makes me feel really excited.
Some Democrats, including Cuomo, have portrayed Mamdani as unfit. They claim that he lacks the managerial skills necessary to deal with crises or the city’s extensive bureaucracy. Mamdani’s advocacy for Palestinian human rights has also drawn criticism.
Mamdani has responded by criticizing Cuomo for his management of the COVID-19 outbreak and his sexual harassment controversy.
During a contentious argument, Cuomo listed numerous management flaws in Mamdani, claiming that the state Assembly member, who has been in office since 2021, has never interacted with Congress or unions and has never managed an infrastructure project. He went on to say that it was not possible to rely on Mamdani to challenge Trump.
Mamdani had a reply ready.
“I have never had to resign in disgrace,” Mr. Cuomo added.
After a study ordered by the state attorney general found that Cuomo had sexually assaulted at least 11 women, he resigned in 2021. He has always maintained that he didn t intentionally harass the women, saying he had simply fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct.
During the campaign, he has become more aggressive in defending himself, framing the situation as a political hit job orchestrated by his enemies.
However, Cuomo had a way to end his exile thanks to the recent controversy at City Hall involving Mayor Eric Adams.
Associated Press writer Jake Offenhartz contributed to this report.
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