If you haven’t paid much attention to New York City politics, a seismic development occurred this week as upstart New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani decisively defeated the former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor. New York City elections are conducted using ranked-choice voting, so it may take some time for the final results to be known. Mamdan had a significant lead of 43.5 to 36.4 percent in the initial counting of first-choice votes, enough to convince Cuomo to concede the election shortly after polls closed at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday. Mamdani is expected to cross the 50 percent threshold after all votes are tallied.
At 34 years old, Mamdani would be the third youngest mayor of New York City. The distinction of being the youngest mayor belongs to Hugh John Grant, who was elected in 1889 at 30. John Purroy Mitchel was elected NYC mayor in 1914 at age 34. He was born on July 19; Mamdani was born on October 18. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was elected in 2021 at the age of 36. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he was brought to the U.S. as a child and became a naturalized citizen in 2018. If elected, he would be the first Muslim mayor and the first Asian mayor. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2021.
The hurdles Mamdani faced throughout his campaign were many and daunting. He was facing off against a seasoned politician twice his age, who fiercely attacked him for his inexperience. Led by the Super PAC Fix The City, Cuomo backers reportedly spent more than $25 million on attack advertising. Many Jewish New Yorkers, alarmed by Mamdani’s strong showing in the polls, perceived him as a threat to Israel’s unyielding support from the Democratic Party. The New York Times did not endorse a candidate, but suggested that Mamdani did not deserve a place on the ballot. MAGA acolytes displayed signs of apoplexy after the results, with stalwarts Laura Loomer and Charlie Kirk predicting a second 9/11 attack.
By most accounts, Mamdani ran a well-disciplined campaign focusing on the needs and wants of New Yorkers, particularly those who are struggling, promising to freeze rent, provide free bus transportation, and free childcare. New York City is ranked among the cities with the highest cost of living globally and the most expensive city in the United States. Mamdani’s victory might further help discredit identity politics, which is usually discussed in terms of race and ethnicity but is often addressed with an ideological or political identity perspective.
While Democrats vociferously warned about the dangers of a second Trump presidency and threats to democracy delineated in the Project 2025 manifesto, Republicans and their MAGA wing concentrated on concerns that many middle—and low-income Americans had, like the affordability of housing, groceries, and child care. They blamed this unaffordability on a spike in inflation caused by the American Rescue Plan legislation, which was necessary to revive the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation that occurred worldwide. They were able to draw voters from a broad spectrum of identities.
Although inflation was rapidly declining as the elections approached, high prices persisted, and Trump had no qualms about lying, blaming Biden, and, of course, taking credit for any positive news about the economy that he claimed was caused by the anticipation of his imminent return to the White House. The pathetic and often embarrassing process of Democrats deciding who would or would not run against Trump helped seal their fate.
Ultimately, winning in politics requires more than simply demonizing your opponents; it involves understanding and addressing the electorate’s needs. It is about meeting people where they are on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. When candidates speak to survival—jobs, healthcare, housing—they tap into the pyramid’s base. But they don’t stop there; they offer a sense of belonging, affirm dignity, and provide inspiration, as they climb the pyramid. Above all, they give voters a reason to believe in something larger than themselves. Maslow reminds us: people don’t just want to survive; they want to matter. Politicians who understand this aren’t just chasing votes, they’re creating meaning. And in doing so, they turn campaigns into movements.
It will not be a cakewalk to Gracie Mansion. According to former Congressman Ed Towns, many black establishment politicians are expected to support Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent. In the initial round of first-ranked votes, Black voters were the only racial group to support Cuomo, doing so by a margin of 16 percent. Whites (5%) and Latinos (6%) supported Mamdani. Cuomo could still run as a candidate for the newly formed Fight and Deliver Party. It will be difficult for the old guard to let go, even if it means supporting a deeply unpopular incumbent mayor. Jewish voters are divided, with some endorsing Mamdani and others viewing him as a threat. He and Jewish candidate NYC Comptroller Brad Lander co-endorsed in the ranked-choice voting system. It will be an interesting fall in New York City.