Zohran Mamdani Wins the New York City Mayoral Race

khongjennifer07
Dec 12, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

By Melvin Najarian December 10, 2025

On Nov. 4, Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race, an election that drew the highest voter turnout in the city since 1969. After years of decline in civic participation, New Yorkers voted in unexpectedly large numbers, with more than two million people casting ballots. According to the New York Times, that is about 42% of the total registered voters.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, defeated Republican candidate Curtis Silwa and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent with significant billionaire backing. Cuomo presented himself as a centrist promising a steady leadership, focusing on affordable housing, expanding the NYPD, and improving services for homelessness. Meanwhile, Mamdani offered plans such as free buses, universal child care, and citywide rent freeze.

Before running for mayor, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor in Queens and as the campaign manager for journalist Ross Barkan, who ran for State Senate in 2018. In 2020, Mamdani was elected to the State Assembly and got reelected twice. As a state assemblyman, Mamdani introduced legislation involving public transit access, tenant protections, utility regulations and reforms to taxation and government transparency.

Complementing his legislation, Mamdani has been a vocal activist for change. When cab drivers in New York faced major financial issues after the cost of taxi medallions rose dramatically in 2021, Mamdani joined the drivers in a 15-day hunger strike to demand real debt relief. He has taken some of the most pro-Palestinian stances in New York politics, regularly raising awareness of Israel’s major human rights violations, including accusations of genocide and apartheid.

“It is so important for politicians like Mamdani to speak out about the genocide in Palestine and encourage protests because people like him have a platform that cannot be ignored. In the current political environment marked by unrest and polarization, we are losing sight of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Other politicians may try to silence the issue, but when someone with Mamdani’s influence speaks out, it becomes far harder to ignore. When people like him speak out, it increases pressure on the U.S. to reconsider its foreign aid and take steps that actually support Palestinian civilians” Senior Simone Vinay said.

Mamdani’s supporters tended to be younger and more ethnically diverse, revealing a shift in New York City’s traditional voters. According to American University communications professor Jane Hall, many of these voters connected with his authenticity on social media. His videos featured him running a marathon, walking across Manhattan to meet residents and even launching a citywide scavenger hunt; allowing him to reach audiences who often felt ignored by mainstream politics. Per the CBS News Voter Poll, he also appealed to former third-party voters and some who supported Trump in the last election cycle.

Even as Mamdani brought in a new and unexpected voter base, his campaign was met with strong backlash from major political figures and wealthy donors who supported his opposition. Some critics argued that Mamdani lacked the political experience to run the nation’s largest city. On multiple occasions, President Donald Trump branded Mamdani as a radical, threatening to withhold federal funds to New York City if Mamdani were elected. His opposition also included some of the wealthiest figures in the country. According to NPR, more than $40 million was spent by Wall Street executives trying to stop Mamdani from being elected. The single largest contribution came from Michael Bloomberg, who gave $13.3 million, per Time.

Mamdani’s platform challenges corporate power and several Trump-era policies. He aims to end corporate exploitation by outlawing non-compete agreements, which he argues keep wages low and leave workers vulnerable to abuse. Mamdani says he will eliminate undisclosed corporate subsidies that funnel public money to private companies through secret agreements. Mamdani has promised to strengthen sanctuary city protections and increase legal support for immigrant families. He also proposes raising the corporate tax rate to New Jersey’s 11.5% and adding a 2% tax on the wealthiest 1%, which his team says will bring in billions toward his affordability plans.

“I agree with Mamdani’s tax approach because high earners in New York City can afford to contribute more. Even a small increase in tax income would make a meaningful difference for millions of low and middle class families in the city. Earning a high income doesn’t represent how hard you work;, and in fact, many essential jobs like teaching require immense dedication to keep society running, yet their pay doesn’t reflect their work. Asking high earners to help those who need it the most and contribute to society is only fair” Junior Aidan Ahmad said.

Mamdani’s proposals drew widespread attention, particularly his plans to reshape housing, transit, and childcare for working families. He has pledged to freeze rents for all stabilized tenants, arguing that the significant costs are the main force pushing families out of the city. He has promised to make every city bus permanently free and significantly more efficient. Another core part of his platform is universal childcare for children six weeks to five years old, by increasing childcare workers’ wages to align with the salaries of public school teachers.

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City reflects a growing demand for officials who prioritize the financial realities facing working families. His focus on housing costs, transit access and childcare addresses the concerns that shape daily life for millions of New Yorkers. Similar results in New Jersey and Virginia governorship elections, along with passage of California’s Prop 50, point to a broader change toward electing officials who prioritize policies that adapt to rising costs of living and aim to serve everyday citizens.