In a landmark moment for New York City, the 2025 mayoral election results are in: state assembly member Zohran Mamdani has secured victory. The announcement confirms that Mamdani will become the city’s next mayor, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
The conclusion of this closely watched race marks a turning point in New York politics. Mamdani, 34, becomes both the first Muslim and the first South Asian–American to be elected mayor. The Queens Democrat ran on a platform focused on affordability, housing, and public transit—issues that resonated particularly with younger and working-class voters across the five boroughs.
A Record Turnout and Clear Mandate
Breaking News: Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker from Queens, will be the 111th mayor of New York. He will be the first Muslim to ever lead the city, as well as its first South Asian mayor and the youngest mayor in more than a century. pic.twitter.com/1VbUePzk3J
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 5, 2025
The 2025 NYC mayoral election results reflect the highest turnout for a mayoral contest in the city in decades, with more than two million voters participating. Mamdani surpassed the 50 percent threshold (50.4%) required for a decisive mandate, securing a majority in a three-way race.
The scale of participation and the margin of victory signal that New Yorkers were ready for change. Indeed, the results reflect a strong desire for fresh leadership and a generational shift at City Hall.
What the Results Show
Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayoral race. The Democratic socialist defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo in a record-breaking election. Current tally: Mamdani 50.4%, Cuomo 41.6%, Sliwa 7.1%. pic.twitter.com/gAW9O0gu4m
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) November 5, 2025
A breakdown of the 2025 NYC mayoral election results shows that Mamdani won key boroughs, including Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, where his campaign’s focus on affordability, public transit, and social welfare resonated strongly.
In contrast, Andrew Cuomo finished second with around 40 percent (41.6%) of the vote, while Curtis Sliwa garnered approximately 7 percent (7.1%). With these results, Mamdani will officially become the mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026, marking a generational shift and making history as the first Muslim and South Asian heritage mayor in the city’s history.
A High-Turnout Election
More than two million New Yorkers cast their ballots in this year’s election, the highest turnout for a mayoral race in decades. Voter participation surged in outer-borough neighborhoods where Mamdani’s campaign built a strong grassroots presence, combining in-person canvassing with digital organizing.
With more than 95% of precincts reporting, the results show Mamdani dominating in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, while Cuomo held onto portions of Staten Island and parts of the Bronx. The race remained competitive throughout the night, but Mamdani’s early leads in key precincts made the outcome clear before midnight.
Election officials confirmed that Mamdani had surpassed the 50% threshold required for an outright win, avoiding a potential runoff that some analysts had expected.
A Campaign Built on “Relentless Improvement”
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani emphasized affordability and access as central themes, repeatedly describing his vision for the city as one of “relentless improvement.” His proposed policies included a rent freeze for the city’s 2.3 million rent-stabilized tenants, free city buses, universal childcare, and expanded affordable housing development.
In his victory speech Tuesday night, Mamdani told supporters gathered in Queens, “This city belongs to you, to the workers, the renters, the dreamers. Together, we will make New York the city that never leaves anyone behind.”
He also thanked voters for believing in a campaign that sought to “restore hope in government” and promised to begin work immediately on forming a transition team to prepare for his swearing-in on January 1, 2026.
Rivals React
Andrew Cuomo, whose independent campaign attempted to frame him as a centrist alternative, conceded shortly after midnight. In a brief statement, he congratulated Mamdani and urged New Yorkers to “support the new mayor in tackling the challenges we all face.”
Curtis Sliwa, running for the Republican Party, focused much of his campaign on public safety and crime reduction but failed to gain significant traction outside of Staten Island. He also congratulated Mamdani, calling the race “a decisive mandate for a new generation of leadership.”
Historic Firsts and Political Shifts
Zohran Mamdani’s message to Donald Trump after his historic NYC mayoral win:
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us,… pic.twitter.com/Ww8qphYjhd
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 5, 2025
Mamdani’s win represents multiple milestones. Born to Ugandan and Indian parents, he is the son of renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. His election makes him both the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in the city’s history, a fact that has drawn national attention.
Political observers note that Mamdani’s victory reflects the growing influence of progressive, working-class politics in urban America. His campaign mobilized younger voters, tenants’ unions, and activists across the city who saw his candidacy as a chance to reset priorities at City Hall.
For many, his win is also viewed as a symbolic generational shift from the city’s traditional political establishment to a new class of leaders focused on equity, sustainability, and inclusion.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the decisive win, Mamdani faces an uphill task as he prepares to govern a city of more than 8 million people with a $120 billion annual budget. He will oversee a workforce of over 300,000 employees and inherit pressing issues ranging from housing shortages and homelessness to crime, economic inequality, and climate resilience.
Observers say his progressive policy agenda will likely face resistance from real estate interests and parts of the City Council. However, Mamdani’s ability to build coalitions—honed during his tenure in the State Assembly—may prove key to advancing his initiatives.
Incoming members of his administration say his early priorities will include forming a housing task force, revising the city’s public transit funding model, and launching consultations with small businesses and unions to address affordability.
A New Era for New York City
With the 2025 NYC mayoral election results now official, Zohran Mamdani’s victory is being celebrated as a defining moment in the city’s modern history. The record voter turnout and the clear mandate suggest that New Yorkers are ready for new leadership and a more inclusive vision for the future.
In his closing remarks, Mamdani reiterated his campaign promise: “Our victory tonight is not the end of the movement that got us here, it’s the beginning of the work we have to do together.”
With the official transition set to begin in the coming weeks, all eyes now turn to how the city’s newest leader will translate his campaign’s bold promises into practical, lasting change for millions of New Yorkers.
Featured image: @ZohranKMamdani/X
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