Zohran Mamdani secures stunning win as New York’s first Muslim, South Asian mayor
The Associated Press has projected Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani as the winner of New York City’s mayoral election
By Muslim Network Desk
NEW YORK (MNTV) — The Associated Press has projected Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani as the winner of New York City’s mayoral election, capping a dramatic race marked by record turnout and intense national scrutiny.
NBC News has also called the race for Mamdani.
The Board of Elections reported that an estimated 2 million New Yorkers cast their ballots — the highest participation in a mayoral race in 30 years. The turnout, fueled by months of grassroots organizing, reflects the enthusiasm around Mamdani’s message of housing justice, affordable transit, and social equity.
Speaking at his election-night event at the Brooklyn Paramount, a packed crowd erupted in chants of “Our city, our time” as results began rolling in. “We are on the brink of making history in our city — on the brink of saying goodbye to the politics of the past,” Mamdani said earlier in the day after casting his vote in Astoria, Queens. “I believe that victory is a mandate in and of itself.”
The Democratic socialist and state assemblyman from Queens defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Decision Desk HQ had projected Mamdani’s win earlier in the evening, with the Associated Press confirming the result hours later.
Mamdani’s victory makes him New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, a milestone that supporters say embodies the city’s diversity and resilience. His campaign — powered by volunteers knocking on doors across the boroughs — focused on rent freezes, free bus service, universal childcare, and fair taxation for the wealthy.
Despite repeated attacks from his opponents, including Islamophobic smears and unfounded claims from President Donald Trump — who labeled him a “communist” and threatened to cut federal funding — Mamdani maintained a positive, issues-focused campaign. “I look forward to fighting for every single dollar this city is owed,” he said when asked about Trump’s threats.
Cuomo, backed by several billionaires, had leaned on Trump’s endorsement in the final stretch of the campaign, framing Mamdani as a “radical socialist.” But that alliance appears to have backfired in a city that overwhelmingly leans Democratic.
The Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa congratulated Mamdani on his victory but warned he would organize opposition if the new mayor attempts to “implement socialism” or “render our police weak and impotent.”
“We’re not only organizing, but we are mobilizing,” Sliwa said. “We will become the mayor-elect and his supporters’ worst enemies.”
Election officials said more than 735,000 people voted early, the highest in any non-presidential election year.
Outside the Brooklyn Paramount, supporters waved Palestinian, South Asian, and American flags side by side, calling Mamdani’s win “a victory for working-class New Yorkers.”
As confetti filled the air, Mamdani told the crowd, “This city belongs to all of us — to every tenant, worker, and child who ever wondered if New York could still be home. Tonight, we proved that it can.”
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