Donald Trump and the Republican Party were left reeling last night as socialist Zohran Mamdani was confirmed as the next mayor of New York City with a decisive win.
With more than 97 per cent of the votes counted, the 34-year-old had at least 1.3 million votes more than his other candidates, former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa combined.
The result completes a rapid ascent for the celebrity-loving Queens assemblyman, who once described himself as a ‘B-list rapper’.
Mamdani’s win also means New York will have its youngest mayor in more than a century and its first South Asian mayor.
But many New Yorkers have been left worried that his victory will leave them worse off, with some vowing to flee the city worried about job losses, crime, antisemitic hate, and violence.
While his victory speech drew in thousands of jubilant supporters, US president Trump downplayed the accomplishment.
He said: ‘It was not expected to be a victory. Very Democrat areas. But I don’t think it was good for Republicans, or good for anybody. We learned a lot.’
In his own speech, Mamdani delivered a message to Trump, saying: ‘So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.’
In that speech, Mamdani listed the early pledges he intends to move on, including universal childcare, fast and free buses, and freezing rent hikes for tenants in rent-stabilised units.
His broader platform has stressed affordability measures such as a $30 minimum wage, additional affordable housing and higher taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents.
Celebrations ran late at the Brooklyn Paramount, with a high-profile crowd that included Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Attorney General Letitia James, City Comptroller Brad Lander and actor Cynthia Nixon. Twitch streamer Hasan Pike was also at the bash.
Mamdani’s campaign drew national progressive backing throughout the year, including endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
He also had celebrity support that ranged from Lupita Nyong’o to Emily Ratajkowski, Hari Nef and Bowen Yang, with embedded posts showing their statements and voting day pictures.
Across the Atlantic, London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly congratulated Mamdani and said New York had chosen hope over fear. ‘New Yorkers faced a clear choice, between hope and fear, and just like we have seen in London, hope won,’ he said on Wednesday.
Trump had weighed into the race before polls closed, branding Mamdani a ‘communist’ and threatening to restrict federal funds if he won, and he endorsed Cuomo on the eve of the vote.
Mamdani’s team and supporters framed the final result as a mandate for affordability measures and a rejection of the attacks that marred the contest.
On the eve of the polls, Trump hinted that he would cut funding to New York if Mamdani won the elections.
He wrote on Truth Social: ‘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 as required, to my beloved first home.’
He added: ‘I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.’ It was an echo of his earlier sentiments where he labelled Mamdani a communist.
Mamdani moved to New York with his parents at the age of seven. He was born in Uganda to parents of Indian ancestry.
He faced scrutiny when his 2009 application to Columbia University resurfaced – he had described his race as both ‘Asian’ and ‘Black or African American’.
Before becoming a politician, Mamdani tried his hand at a surprising rap career under the bizarre name Mr Cardamom.
In one of his songs called Nani, written as an ode to his grandmother, he urges listeners to ‘get the guap, spend a rack on ya Nani’.
The song by the self-proclaimed former ‘B-list rapper’ even had a music video, with Madhur Jaffrey playing the part of his grandmother.
Mamdani is also in the video – shirtless with an apron on, dancing to the beat.
And it was discovered that he still gets royalties from his hip hop ventures. His tax return showed he was raking in $1,267 in royalties – not comparable to the $131,000 salary he received in the state Assembly.
His love life has also sparked much interest. He is married to Rama Duwaji, who is now set to become the youngest ever New York City First Lady at 28.
The pair first met on the dating app Hinge in 2021 and got engaged in October 2025. They wed in a civil ceremony at New York City Hall. In July 2025, they went to Uganda for a ceremony to celebrate their union.
Up until recently, Duwaji, raised in Dubai, had shied away from the limelight, a move which drew backlash from Mamdani’s critics.
Her friends, however, have sung her praises in a number of interviews. One even told the New York Times last month: ‘She’s our modern day Princess Diana.’
She currently works as an animator, illustrator and ceramist. Her works have been featured in publications such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post. Her art has also appeared in the Tate Modern.
Last month, when the couple were photographed dining at Omen Sushi in Manhattan, scores of people took to social media to complain, saying it was one of the priciest spots in the city.
Other users came to their defence and shared menus they say proved that prices at the restaurant were not that exclusive.
His critics have wondered whether he could be electable in other parts of the country.
Observers have also questioned whether he would have enough time to implement his ambitious policies, following the mixed record of his predecessors.
A recent Daily Mail poll predicted that 25 per cent of New York City residents would ‘consider’ moving if he won the election. His proposed policies have spooked some locals and analysts.
He has pledged to freeze rent hikes and promised to build 200,00 new homes, estimated to cost $100billion. Critics say this will cause shortages and lead to the loss of private investments.
His free bus fares agenda has also been questioned – sceptics say it will cause a huge loss in revenues and a sharp decrease in service quality.
Mamdani’s promise to offer free childcare from six weeks until the age of five, costing $8billion. Detractors say this will not be completely free – taxpayers will have to foot the huge bill.
Businesses have also been concerned about his $30 minimum wage pledge. It has sparked worries about job cuts and reduced hours. California attempted to implement a similar policy, which was deemed a failure.
Many also fear crime will run rampant in the city. According to the poll, 47 per cent believe crime will get worse, while only 32 per cent believe the city would be safer under his watch.
