33-Year-Old Zohran Mamdani Defeats Andrew Cuomo in Historic New York City Mayoral Primary Upset

In a stunning political upset, 33-year-old Indian-American and State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, signaling a major shift in the city’s political landscape.

Despite ranked-choice voting still being tallied, Cuomo, 67, conceded Tuesday night, acknowledging Mamdani’s strong lead, according to the BBC.

The former governor, once the frontrunner and establishment favorite, hinted at a possible independent run in the November general election. “I said he won the primary election,” Cuomo told The New York Times. “I’ll be reviewing the ranked-choice numbers because I’m also on an independent line.”

If victorious in November, Mamdani would become the city’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor. Born in Uganda and raised in Queens from age seven, Mamdani is a democratic socialist whose campaign focused on bold progressive policies, including:

• Free public bus service

• Universal childcare

• Rent freezes on subsidized housing

• City-run grocery stores

• Higher taxes on the wealthy to expand social services

Mamdani, backed by high-profile progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, told the BBC, “This is a city where one in four live in poverty, where half a million children go to bed hungry. We must act boldly to preserve what makes New York City special.”

Cuomo’s run was widely seen as an attempt at a political comeback following his 2021 resignation amid a sexual harassment scandal. While he had gained national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, his return to politics was met with resistance from the city’s energized progressive base.

Political analyst Trip Yang called Mamdani’s win “the biggest upset in modern NYC history,” noting it signals a Democratic electorate eager for leaders who will “stand up to national Republican dominance with clarity and courage.”

With New York City a Democratic stronghold, the primary winner is typically seen as the presumptive next mayor. Mamdani’s grassroots campaign, which featured multilingual outreach and viral videos—including Bollywood clips and pro-Palestinian messages—resonated especially with younger voters and immigrant communities.

Though final vote tabulations will continue into next week, Cuomo’s concession suggests Mamdani’s lead is insurmountable.