ZOHRAN MAMDANI HAS been elected as the new mayor of New York City, capping a remarkable political rise for the 34-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker.

His victory marks a historic moment — he will be the city’s first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest mayor in more than 100 years.

Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in an election that saw the city’s highest turnout in five decades, with more than two million ballots cast, according to the New York Board of Elections.

His victory is being hailed as a major win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and a rebuke to both centrist Democrats and Donald Trump’s Republican base.

Supporters of Zohran Mamdani react as he gives his acceptance speech. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The president had backed Cuomo this week, and even threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani won.

Speaking to an ecstatic crowd in Brooklyn last night, Mamdani embraced his outsider status and celebrated the diversity of the city he will soon lead.

“The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this,” he told supporters, drawing cheers.

He continued, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

“And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”

In a direct message to the US president, he added: “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”

Trump responded shortly after on Truth Social, writing, “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”

Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and raised in New York, became a US citizen in 2018.

His campaign centred on affordability and social reform, including pledges to freeze rents, introduce “fast and free” public buses, establish universal childcare, and create state-run grocery shops.

He has vowed to raise taxes on the wealthy to help fund these initiatives.

At his rally, he led supporters in a call-and-response of his key promises:

“Together, New York, we’re going to freeze the…”

“Rent!” the crowd roared.

“Together, New York, we’re going to make buses fast and…”

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“Free!”

Cuomo, who had sought a political comeback after resigning as governor in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations, conceded the race but warned of “a dangerous road ahead” for the city.

Cuomo pictured at a watch party last night. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

In a measured tone, he added, “No, that is not right,” when his supporters booed at the mention of Mamdani’s name.

“Tonight was their night.”

Mamdani received backing from high-profile progressives, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In her statement following the result, Ocasio-Cortez said: “We’re going to stand up to bullies and thugs in the White House. New Yorkers just showed the country what’s possible.”

Governor Kathy Hochul congratulated Mamdani on what she described as one of the city’s “highest-turnout elections on record,” saying she looked forward to working with him to “make our city more affordable and liveable.”

Mamdani’s victory comes amid wider Democratic successes in governor races in Virginia and New Jersey.

Additional reporting from PA