Zohran Mamdani wins the NYC mayor’s race, ABC Information initiatives

NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York Metropolis, ABC Information initiatives.

In a victory for the Democratic celebration’s progressive wing, Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani should now navigate the endless calls for of America’s largest metropolis and ship on bold – skeptics say unrealistic – marketing campaign guarantees.

With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in historical past as town’s first Muslim mayor, the primary of South Asian heritage and the primary born in Africa. He will even turn out to be town’s youngest mayor in additional than a century when he takes workplace on Jan. 1.

Mamdani’s unlikely rise offers credence to Democrats who’ve urged the celebration to embrace extra progressive, left-wing candidates as an alternative of rallying behind centrists in hopes of successful again swing voters who’ve deserted the celebration.

He has already confronted scrutiny from nationwide Republicans, together with President Donald Trump, who’ve eagerly forged him as a risk and the face of what they are saying is a extra radical Democratic Occasion.

The competition drove the most important turnout in a mayoral race in additional than 50 years, with greater than 2 million New Yorkers casting ballots, in accordance with town’s Board of Elections.

Mamdani’s grassroots marketing campaign centered on affordability, and his charisma spoiled Cuomo’s tried political comeback. The previous governor, who resigned 4 years in the past following allegations of sexual harassment that he continues to disclaim, was dogged by his previous all through the race and was criticized for operating a adverse marketing campaign.

There’s additionally the query of how he’ll take care of Trump, who threatened to take over town and to arrest and deport Mamdani if he received. Mamdani was born in Uganda, the place he spent his early childhood, however was raised in New York Metropolis and have become a U.S. citizen in 2018.