Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim of South Asian origin, stunned political observers in dealing a crushing defeat to heavyweight former Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, as he appeared poised to become the Democratic candidate for mayor of the United States’ biggest city.
If Mamdani, a state assemblyman, wins the mayoral election in November, he will become the first Muslim, Indian-origin mayor in New York City’s history.
As vote counts poured in, Mamdani invoked Nelson Mandela as he tweeted early Wednesday morning: “It always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.”
Cuomo, the former governor of New York State, who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, addressed an event in Manhattan after calling Mamdani to congratulate him. “Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night, and he put together a great campaign,” he said. “And he touched young people, and inspired them, and moved them, and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign.”
In Mamdani’s expected win, political analysts believe there are larger lessons for the Democratic Party, still grappling with its loss in the 2024 presidential and Congressional elections.
