Mamdani defeats Trump’s candidate Cuomo to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor

Michael Adesina

34-year-old Zohran Mamdani has won the closely watched New York City mayoral election, defeating independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, who was backed by President Donald Trump.

In the days leading up to the election, Trump issued a stern warning to New York voters, urging them to block Mamdani’s path to victory or pay.

“If Communist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds, other than the very minimum required, to my beloved first home,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.”

Trump’s remarks echoed sentiments he expressed during an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, where he said:

“It’s going to be hard for me, as President, to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”

Despite the threats, Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, achieved a historic victory, becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest person in over a century to lead the United States’ largest city.

“In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light,” Mamdani declared in his victory speech, where he outlined his vision for social justice, affordable housing, and inclusive governance. He also addressed Trump directly, calling for unity over division.

Following the election, Trump posted a brief reaction on social media, writing: “And so it begins.”

Political analysts say Mamdani’s triumph underscores broader voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s leadership. Exit polls conducted for CNN by SSRS show that majorities of voters in New York, California, Virginia, and New Jersey disapproved of Trump’s performance — a trend that appears to have buoyed Democratic and progressive candidates across the board.

In New York specifically, Trump’s approval rating stood at just 26 percent, according to the polling, while voters expressed significantly more confidence in Democratic leadership.

Mamdani’s victory marks a pivotal moment in the city’s political history. Yet, as observers note, the real test begins now, as his administration faces the challenge of translating campaign promises into tangible progress for millions of New Yorkers.