Mamdani’s many firsts as he makes history with landmark NY mayoral win

At just 34 years old, Zohran Mamdani has been elected the 111th mayor of New York City, becoming the city's first Muslim mayor, its first South Asian-heritage mayor, its first Africa-born mayor and the youngest to hold the office in more than a century. 

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani defeated the former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, making history as the city's first "anti-establishment" mayor.

Although he ran as a Democratic candidate, Mamdani's victory can be seen as anti-establishment in many ways – beginning with the fact that he identifies as a democratic socialist in a country where socialism and communism remain largely taboo.

His campaign promised for building publicly owned, permanently affordable housing units, his advocacy for  an outright rent freeze for the approximately 1 million apartments in the city – with a view to making New York more affordable – meant he was a very popular candidate from the very beginning, and yesterday's polls result just cannot be called surprising despite the many 'firsts'.

The aftermath of the polls was well anticipated.

Cheerful crowds

Crowds across the city chanted Mamdani's name as they celebrated his historic election win, a Reuters video shows.

"It's really so much change.. We've had so much status quo for so long – It's just over and over the same kind of thing. It's just a nice breath of fresh air," one supporter said.

Another supporter expressed belief in the mayor-elect, stating: "I believe in him and I believe that he is going to gather a team of super experts who can make that dream happen and come true."

Another cheering fan told Reuters, "As an Albanian American born in this country as a Muslim it's satisfying to see someone my age believes the same beliefs as me who wants to make a more affordable New York City is absolutely amazing to see".

Mamdani in his speech also acknowledged the contribution of volunteers and voters who "made this movement their own." Mamdani's acknowledgements included "Yemeni bodega owners and Mexican abuelas, Senegalese taxi drivers and Uzbek nurses, Trinidadian line cooks and Ethiopian aunties."

'Turn the volume up': Mamdani to Trump

The mayor-elect wasted no time calling out President Donald Trump, formally kicking off the battle that will likely define relations between the 34-year-old mayor and the president whose celebrity is tied to the city.

"Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!" Mamdani said during a speech to a raucous crowd of supporters shortly after being declared the victor.

Mamdani made countering the 79-year-old Republican president's actions in the city – especially on immigration – a centrepiece of his campaign.

The next three years will test his ability to go toe-to-toe with Trump, who wields the world's biggest bully pulpit and thrives on bare-knuckle politics.

"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," Mamdani told supporters. "And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.

"This is not only how we stop Trump, it's how we stop the next one."

Trump has repeatedly turned the massive powers of the presidency on political rivals, and already before the election had threatened to possibly withhold billions of dollars in federal funding from New York City if Mamdani, a democratic socialist, was elected.

The president, who backed Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, gave an ominous four-word response on Truth Social after Mamdani spoke at his victory party: "…AND SO IT BEGINS!"

Mamdani defeated Democratic former Governor Cuomo, 67, who ran as an independent after losing the nomination to Mamdani in the primary election.

"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life. But let tonight be the final time I utter his name," Mamdani said.

'Hope won': London Mayor Sadiq Khan hails Mamdani's win

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has congratulated Zohran Mamdani on his election victory, calling it a "historic campaign" and a triumph of optimism over fear.

"New Yorkers faced a clear choice – between hope and fear," Khan wrote on social media. "And just like we've seen in London – hope won."

With Mamdani's win, the two largest cities in the UK and the US are now led by liberal, Muslim sons of immigrants – both rising to prominence by countering the growing rightward shift in their respective countries, reports The New York Times.

Despite their shared heritage and experiences with Islamophobic attacks, the two leaders differ in their politics – Khan represents Britain's Labour Party as a centrist, while Mamdani is known for his progressive left agenda.

Both have been the targets of hate campaigns and Islamophobic rhetoric.

Mamdani's campaign has drawn support from American progressives including endorsements from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and the New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom have appeared with him at rallies across the city.

Affordability at the core of campaign

At the heart of Mamdani's campaign was a single, powerful message: New York is too expensive.

His team made affordability synonymous with his campaign from start to finish. Mamdani's core narrative was that "Life doesn't have to be this hard. New York can be more affordable and it's government's job to deliver that."

While Cuomo emphasised crime and safety, Mamdani focused relentlessly on lowering costs for working families. His rallies featured signs reading "A City We Can Afford," and his website declared that he was "running for Mayor to lower the cost of living for working class New Yorkers."

Democrats sweep first major elections of second Trump term

While Mamdani's win was the most talked about event yesterday, it wasn't the only one for his party. Democrats swept a trio of races yesterday in the first major elections since Donald Trump regained the presidency, elevating a new generation of leaders and giving the beleaguered party a shot of momentum ahead of next year's congressional elections.

In Virginia and New Jersey, moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger, 46, and Mikie Sherrill, 53, won their elections for governor with commanding leads, respectively, Reuters reported.

Yesterday's contests offered a barometer of how Americans are responding to Trump's tumultuous nine months in office. The races also served as a test of differing Democratic campaign playbooks ahead of 2026, with the party locked out of power in Washington and still trying to forge a path out of the political wilderness.