Cuomo CRUSHED: Socialist Underdog Mamdani Flips the Script

In a political earthquake that’s rattled the five boroughs, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, toppling former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a stunning upset. Cuomo, once the undisputed frontrunner, conceded just 90 minutes after polls closed, telling supporters, “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won”.

Mamdani’s campaign, powered by grassroots energy and a progressive platform focused on rent freezes, free public transit, and universal childcare, surged past Cuomo’s $25 million super PAC machine. The Queens Assemblyman, who would become NYC’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if elected, captured 44% of first-choice votes to Cuomo’s 36%3—a margin expected to widen once ranked-choice ballots are fully counted.

Cuomo’s bid was a high-stakes comeback attempt following his 2021 resignation amid scandal. Despite endorsements from major unions and political heavyweights, his law-and-order message failed to resonate in a city increasingly hungry for bold change. Mamdani, backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, offered a vision of a more equitable New York—and voters listened.

The general election looms, with Mamdani set to face off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, now running as an independent after a corruption indictment, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. But for now, the city’s political axis has shifted—and Mamdani is at the center of the storm.