New York state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was on the brink of a remarkable primary win for New York City mayor, with his top challenger, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, conceding the race.
Andrew Cuomo Concedes NYC Mayoral Primary to Zohran Mamdani in Stunning Political Upset
In a seismic shift for New York City politics—and potentially the Democratic Party at large—former Governor Andrew Cuomo has officially conceded the Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old city councilman and democratic socialist whose grassroots campaign stunned the political establishment.
With ranked-choice voting tabulations still underway, early returns showed Mamdani holding a decisive first-round lead, bolstered by anticipated second-choice support from progressive ally Brad Lander, who finished third. The concession from Cuomo, a political heavyweight with decades of experience and name recognition, marks a dramatic fall from grace—and a profound statement about the direction of New York City politics.
“This is an earthquake,” said CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten. “You have a candidate—Zohran Mamdani—who started this race trailing by 30 to 40 points, taking on a former governor. And now Cuomo has called him to concede. That speaks volumes.”
Mamdani, a Ugandan-born immigrant and the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, is poised to become New York City’s first immigrant mayor in generations. His campaign tapped into growing discontent within the Democratic electorate, particularly among younger, more progressive voters who view the political status quo as out of step with modern challenges.
“This is a city of immigrants,” Mamdani said in a recent interview. “Forty percent of New Yorkers were born outside the United States, and yet the current administration—and even Andrew Cuomo’s campaign—failed to adequately stand up to Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. That ends now.”
Mamdani’s appeal was particularly strong among Black and immigrant communities, as well as young voters disillusioned with centrist Democrats like Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams. His platform included expanded tenant protections, stronger sanctuary city laws, and a more progressive taxation policy targeting the city’s wealthiest residents.
Cuomo’s defeat is not just a personal political blow—it’s symbolic of a broader generational and ideological shift. Just five years ago, Cuomo was a national star during the COVID-19 pandemic, praised for his daily briefings and viewed as a steady Democratic leader. But allegations of misconduct and growing criticism over his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic eroded his popularity.
Though he launched a comeback with strong financial backing and establishment support, Cuomo was unable to connect with an electorate that has increasingly moved leftward. Not a single major pre-election poll showed him within striking distance once ranked-choice reallocation was factored in.
Adding another layer to the unfolding drama, current Mayor Eric Adams has not ruled out running as an independent in the general election. Adams, who did not compete in the Democratic primary, has drawn criticism from progressives over his approach to policing and immigration enforcement—areas where Mamdani has vowed sharp departures.
“This result is also an indictment of Adams,” said one analyst on a CNN panel. “Mamdani ran on an unapologetically anti-Adams platform, particularly criticizing the mayor’s cooperation with ICE and his failure to defend sanctuary city policies.”
Critics of Mamdani have raised alarms about his lack of executive experience and his economic policies. “He’s a 33-year-old socialist who’s never run anything more than a small nonprofit,” said Republican strategist Arthur Laffer. “You raise taxes on the wealthy in a city like this, you risk losing the tax base, degrading city services, and repeating the fiscal nightmare of the 1970s.”
Supporters argue that these attacks mirror those made against other progressive insurgents like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who famously unseated Democratic leader Joe Crowley in 2018. “People said she couldn’t win. They said she was too radical. And yet, here we are,” said one commentator.
The full results of ranked-choice tabulation will be confirmed in the coming days. Meanwhile, Cuomo’s concession effectively clears the path for Mamdani to become the Democratic nominee, with an eye now toward the general election.
Despite lingering threats of independent challenges, Mamdani’s victory marks a definitive statement: the Democratic base in New York City is changing—and it’s no longer afraid to upend the old guard.
