Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assembly member from Queens, secured more than 50% of the vote. Cuomo, 67, finished above 40%, while Sliwa took just over 7%.
The victory capped a wave of Democratic successes nationwide and sparked celebrations at Mamdani’s election night party at the Brooklyn Paramount, where the Associated Press called the race in his favor.
Mamdani is also the city’s first South Asian mayor and the youngest in more than a century. Incumbent Eric Adams, who sought a second term as an independent, exited the race in September.
Launching his bid last fall as a relatively unknown lawmaker, Mamdani built a small-donor, volunteer-driven campaign with a message focused on affordability.
His platform included freezing rents on rent-stabilized units, expanding affordable housing, raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour, making buses free and increasing taxes on the wealthiest residents.
Momentum grew through the spring and culminated in a decisive June Democratic primary win over Cuomo by nearly 13 points, powered by a diverse coalition that drew many young and first-time voters.
National progressives rallied behind him, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with New York leaders Jerry Nadler and Attorney General Letitia James also offering support. Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed him in September, followed by U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries less than two weeks before election day.
Mamdani faced sustained attacks over his age, experience and progressive agenda, as well as criticism of his positions on Israel and Gaza.
He denounced Islamophobic rhetoric from critics, including Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, and rebuked Cuomo for laughing along with a radio host’s remark that he would be “cheering” another 9/11.
He also accused a Super PAC backing Cuomo of “blatant Islamophobia” over a flier that altered his image.
Former President Donald Trump labeled Mamdani “radical” and a “communist,” endorsed Cuomo on the eve of the vote and warned it would be “highly unlikely” the city would receive more than minimum federal funds if Mamdani won.
Billionaire Elon Musk also urged support for Cuomo.
Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to New York at age seven and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. In July, Trump raised the possibility of revoking his citizenship, which Mamdani condemned as an attack on democracy.
After results were announced, Trump suggested his allies’ defeats stemmed from his name not being on ballots and from a shutdown; the White House account on X posted a Knicks-style graphic reading, “Trump is your president.”
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Source: Polskie Radio 24, Associated Press, PAP, The Guardian, CNN