In New York’s latest election cycle, Zohran Mamdani was elected as the mayor, becoming the first Muslim and person of South Asian descent to hold the position, as well as the youngest in over a century. The 34-year-old, Ugandan-born politician ran on a Democratic Socialist platform, and he defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani experienced a striking rise to prominence throughout the course of his campaign. At the outset of joining the mayoral race, he was a relatively obscure politician, serving as the assemblyman of Astoria, a district in Queens. However, through his commanding social presence and lively in-person interactions, he successfully communicated his vision for a more affordable city and garnered the interest of a diverse demographic of voters, particularly young first-time voters and working-class immigrants. His campaign promises included implementing a rent freeze, rolling out fare-free bus services, increasing the minimum wage by 2030, providing universal child care, and lowering the cost of living by raising taxes on New Yorkers’ top 1 percent.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani’s dynamic with his opponents revealed a stark contrast in strategy and resources. Cuomo, a seasoned politician with a long record in state government, relied heavily on Super PAC funding, which gave him access to extensive advertising and media reach. In contrast, Mamdani built his campaign almost entirely from the ground up, relying on grassroots organizing and volunteer-driven outreach. While Sliwa struggled to gain traction beyond a core Republican base, Mamdani steadily consolidated progressive and working-class voters by capitalizing on a desire for change and fresh leadership.
His efforts yielded results, and his outlook proved popular when, back in June, he won the Democratic primary by 12 percentage points. Numerous prominent politicians in the lead-up to the election endorsed Mamdani, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The mayoral election at large experienced a significant surge in turnout compared to recent years, with more than two million voters casting a ballot, almost double the 1.1 million from four years ago. Across the five boroughs of New York City, Mamdani accumulated over one million votes; he is the first candidate since John V. Lindsay in 1969 to amass this many votes.
Opponents of Mamdani flagged his relative inexperience and how that would act as a hindrance to the implementation of his ambitious and exceedingly progressive plans. Also, despite his public renunciation of antisemitism, his open, deep-seated criticisms of Israel’s government and actions in Gaza have alienated some voters, especially considering New York City hosts the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
Ideologically, Mamdani’s victory signals a significant shift in New York City politics. His triumph demonstrates the growing appeal of ambitious social and economic reforms, highlighting a city increasingly receptive to policies that address income inequality, housing affordability, and public services. By successfully pushing forward a Democratic Socialist platform, Mamdani’s election suggests that New Yorkers are embracing bold and transformative agendas rather than incremental change, and it may encourage similar progressive movements in other urban centers.
For students at Concord Academy, Mamdani’s triumph offers a powerful lesson: the path to impact is not determined by background, privilege, or access to vast resources, as Andrew Cuomo’s well-funded campaign illustrates. Instead, it is the energy and persistent effort one brings to the causes that matter most that can truly drive change within communities.