Zohran Mamdani, the democrat candidate, scripted history by becoming the 111th Mayor of New York City, and the first and only Muslim to do so. He defeated former governor, Andrew Cuomo, and the republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
The 34-year-old assembly member from Queens secured victory by more than 50% votes, while the republican candidate got only 7% votes. Andrew Cuomo got 40% of the share. Mamdani’s victory is another line of victory for the democrats who are winning across states. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger became the first female governor of Virginia, while Mikie Sherrill defeated Trump’s candidate in New Jersey.
Mamdani is not only the first Muslim Mayor of the city, but also the first South Asian Mayor and the youngest in more than a century. Eric Adams, who was the current mayor of the city, contested as an independent candidate this year, but dropped out in September. Mamdani’s rise in popularity is a remarkable journey, as the lawmaker was a little-known figure when he started his election campaign last year.
But his unique and relatable approach towards affordability gained momentum amongst the New Yorkers. He called for rent-freezing, affordable housing, a minimum wage of $30 per hour, free bus services, taxing the wealthiest people more and other important agendas. Mamdani’s campaign built momentum since the Spring, through his social media presence and small steps that attracted several people.
This was visible in his decisive Democratic primary win in June this year after defeating Cuomo. He stunned the entire city by building a diverse coalition with people from different backgrounds, including several young voters. After facing defeat in the primary, Cuomo, who has faced allegations of sexual harassment and resigned in 2021, ran as an independent candidate, hoping for a political comeback.
But summer polls and several other predictions made it clear that Mamdani was way ahead of his competitors. Mamdani and Cuomo have been seen attacking each other quite a few times earlier. But the results speak for Mamdani as he has not just garnered the votes but a lot of respect and favour from a diverse group of citizens.
Despite facing scrutiny over his policies, age, and experience, he stayed calm and continued his campaign, leading to the final victory.
