New York / PNN /
Zohran Mamdani, a 34‑year‑old Democratic Socialist, won the race for mayor of New York City early Wednesday, marking a remarkable rise from a little‑known state legislator to one of the most prominent Democrats in the country. He will become the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city.
He defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (67), who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani. The campaign became a generational and ideological contest within the Democratic Party at a time when the party seeks to reshape its damaged image.
Mayor‑elect Mamdani said his decisive victory “shows the way to defeat President Donald Trump,” who has been a fierce critic of his policies. Addressing supporters, he said: “If there is anyone who can show to a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that brought him to what he is.” He added: “New York will be the light in this dark political moment.”
In Virginia, moderate Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the gubernatorial race easily. At 46, the former member of Congress and CIA officer will be Virginia’s first female governor after defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears. In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the governorship.
These three races gave the Democratic Party a chance to test different campaign strategies ahead of the 2026 midterms, when control of Congress is at stake. Since President Trump’s win last year, Democrats have been out of power in Washington and are grappling with how best to recover.
The three candidates focused on economic issues, especially affordability. Spanberger and Sherrill hail from the party’s moderate wing, while Mamdani ran as a progressive, a voice from a new generation known for his outspoken defense of social and economic justice, championing the poor, the marginalized and immigrants. He describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist” and believes the state must play a fundamental role in guaranteeing housing, education and healthcare as rights, not privileges.
Mamdani is known for driving bold reform projects—such as expanding public‑housing services and limiting the power of the large real‑estate firms. He represents a new generation of politicians inspired by Bernie Sanders and the “Justice for All” movement, working to translate socialism into practical solutions that restore respect for the ordinary citizen in the face of capital’s power.
The spotlight on Mamdani is heightened because the election is about a city unlike any other: New York has more than 8.4 million residents and is the largest urban economy in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the GDP of the New York metropolitan statistical area was about US $2.608 trillion in 2023; for New York City itself, the GDP was approximately US $1.43 trillion—larger than many countries’ economies.
Zohran Mamdani was born on 18 October 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, and moved with his family to Cape Town, South Africa, when he was five, where he attended St. George’s School while his father taught at the University of Cape Town. The family then relocated to New York when he was seven.
Between 2017 and 2019, Mamdani joined the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organisation in the U.S., and worked on campaigns for New York City Council and Queens District Attorney. In October 2019 he announced his candidacy for the New York State Assembly in District 36 (covering Astoria and Long Island City in Queens), defeating Democratic incumbent Aravella Simotas, who had served four consecutive terms. Mamdani was re‑elected in 2022 and 2024.
