Zohran Mamdani Defeats Cuomo in NYC Primary

zohran mamdani

Okay, fam New York just dropped a bombshell. Zohran Mamdani, that 33-year-old progressive sparkplug from Queens, just beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary with 43.5% of first-choice votes to Cuomo’s 36.4% 

Cuomo conceded late last night, calling Mamdani to say, “Tonight was your night.” But remember ranked-choice voting means the final outcome’s still TBD

It’s a flame forward moment for NYC progressives. Let’s unpack exactly what went down.

Election Results Are In Mamdani Leads, Cuomo Concedes

This was not a run of the mill loss for Cuomo. Mamdani built a grassroots wave targeting pockets of young, working-class, and immigrant voters winning Fulton strongholds and even parts of conservative leaning enclaves

Cuomo’s establishment muscle and big endorsements couldn’t stop that momentum. Mamdani crossed 43.5% with nearly 95% of precincts reporting, while Cuomo pulled 36.4%

Cuomo caught that wave and graciously conceded, saying: “I called him tonight. It’s his night.”

Ranked Choice Voting Still in Play What That Means

NYC’s ranked-choice system kicks in now:

• No candidate hit 50%, so votes shift

• Lower-place votes (Brad Lander at ~11%) get redistributed 

• Final outcome could come mid-July, once mail-in and provisional ballots are counted

Early signs? Lander's campaign funneled most of his voters to Mamdani — giving him a strong shot at crossing 50% once the final rounds hit

Candidate	First-Round %	Status
Zohran Mamdani	43.5%	Leading
Andrew Cuomo	36.4%	Conceded
Brad Lander	11.3%	Eliminated
Other	8.8%	Redistributed

NYC Politics Future?

These things could happen

• Mamdani’s the first Muslim and Indian-American to win the NYC Dem primary 

• It's a backlash against corporate interests, with progressive populists winning across demographic lines 

• The moment signals a possible left-turn for the Democratic Party in big-city governance

Cuomo’s Reactio Concession Speech and Next Moves

Cuomo , he went classy:

“Tonight was not our night it was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night. He deserved it.” 

He also hinted at a potential independent run in November, calling for a thorough review of his options. If he does, that could shake up the general election, where Mayor Eric Adams (running independent), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and maybe even Cuomo could split the vote.

What Happens Next in the Mayoral Race?

1. Ranked-choice tally completes mid-July

2. Mail-in and provisional ballots join the mix

3. General election showdown: Mamdani vs. Adams vs. CUomo (maybe)

4. Platform focus: housing freeze, free transit, childcare expectations are high 

A Turning Point, But Not The End

Mamdani's win isn’t just about beating Cuomo it is about shaking up how NYC governs. He’s riding a wave. Now he has to deliver. Housing, transit, policing the city is counting on action.

Whatever happens in November whether Cuomo runs independent or not this week confirmed that NYC Democrats are ready for a real change.

Sources & Citations

• Reuters — Mamdani leads Cuomo, Cuomo concedes 

• Guardian & NY Mag — Upset analysis

• AP, CBS News — Concession and ranked-choice explanation

• Time & RTHK — Demographics, national impact