Democrat Mamdani elected as first Muslim mayor of New York

Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor.

In a victory for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

With his commanding win, 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 New York’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on January 1.

“The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this,” Mamdani declared to a roaring crowd at his victory party.

“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change,” he added, vowing to “wake up each morning with a singular purpose: To make this city better for you than it was the day before.”

Trump threatens to cut funds for New York over mayoral election

More than 2 million New Yorkers cast ballots in the contest, the largest turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, according to the city’s Board of Elections.

With about 90% of the votes counted, Mamdani held an approximately 9 percentage point lead over Cuomo.

Mamdani’s unlikely rise gives credence to Democrats who have urged the party to embrace more progressive candidates instead of rallying behind centrists in hopes of winning back swing voters who have abandoned the party.

He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of a more radical Democratic Party that is out of step with mainstream America.

Trump repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to New York – and even take it over – if Mamdani won.

The Star