New York City just went through a political earthquake. If you’ve been following the news, you know the 2025 mayoral race wasn’t just another election. It was a total breakdown of the old guard.
For a while, it looked like a standard fight between centrist heavyweights and a sitting mayor. But then the federal investigations into Eric Adams ramped up, and everything went sideways. Honestly, by the time we got to the general election on November 4, 2025, the map of New York politics had been completely redrawn.
We now have Zohran Mamdani as the Mayor-elect, set to take office on January 1, 2026. He’s the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in the city’s history. Also, he’s the youngest since the 19th century. To say people didn't see this coming a year ago is an understatement.
The Chaos of the Mayor of NYC Candidates
The field started out crowded. Everyone and their cousin seemed to want the job. We had the incumbent, Eric Adams, initially planning to run for a second term. Then we had the "comeback kid" (or so he thought), former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mix in progressive stalwarts like Brad Lander and Scott Stringer, and you had a recipe for a very long, very expensive year.
What really killed the "status quo" was the primary. On June 24, 2025, Zohran Mamdani pulled off what many call the biggest upset in modern NYC history. He didn't just win; he leveraged the ranked-choice voting system perfectly. He and Comptroller Brad Lander actually cross-endorsed each other, telling their supporters to pick the other as their number two.
It worked.
Cuomo was the frontrunner for months. He had the money. He had the name recognition. But Mamdani’s ground game in Queens and Brooklyn was on another level.
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Who Actually Stood on the Final Ballot?
By the time the general election rolled around in November 2025, the list of mayor of NYC candidates had narrowed down to three main players, even if the paper ballot looked a bit more cluttered.
- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat/Working Families Party): The winner. He ran on a "New York for the Many" platform. We’re talking $30 minimum wage by 2030, free city buses, and a total freeze on rent-stabilized apartments. It’s a massive shift to the left.
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent - "Fight and Deliver" Party): After losing the Democratic primary, Cuomo didn't go home. He launched an independent bid. He tried to pivot to the center-right, focusing on crime and even getting an endorsement from Donald Trump (which he awkwardly tried to distance himself from). He ended up with about 41% of the vote.
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican/Protect Animals Party): The Guardian Angels founder was back. He mostly talked about animal rights—specifically ending horse-drawn carriages—and "tough on crime" policies. He got his usual base but stayed in the single digits at roughly 7%.
There were others, too. Technically, Eric Adams was still on the ballot because he missed the deadline to get his name off, even though he’d unofficially withdrawn in September citing "low poll numbers." Talk about a weird ending to a mayoralty.
The Primary That Shook City Hall
Looking back at the June primary, the sheer number of candidates who failed to gain traction is wild. Scott Stringer, who has been in city politics forever, finished in 5th place with less than 2% of the vote. State Senator Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie—both huge names in the legislature—couldn't break out of the pack either.
The voters were clearly looking for something that didn't feel like "the establishment."
Mamdani's victory came in the third round of ranked-choice counting. He ended up with 56.4% against Cuomo's 43.6%. That primary win essentially sealed the deal, given how blue NYC is, though Cuomo’s independent run made the fall a lot more stressful for the Democrats than usual.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Election
People think Cuomo lost because of his past scandals. Sure, that was a factor. But the real reason the mayor of NYC candidates list saw such a shakeup was affordability.
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New Yorkers are struggling. You know it, I know it.
Mamdani talked about "city-owned grocery stores" and "universal public childcare." To a lot of people, that sounded like a fantasy. To a young voter who can't afford a studio in Astoria, it sounded like a lifeline. Turnout was the highest it’s been since 1993, specifically because young people actually showed up this time.
Cuomo tried to win on "competence" and "experience." He talked about how he built the Tappan Zee Bridge (the Mario Cuomo Bridge). But in 2025, New Yorkers cared more about their rent than a bridge in Westchester.
The Road Ahead for the New Administration
Now that the dust has settled, Mamdani has to actually govern. It’s one thing to campaign on a $30 minimum wage; it’s another to get it through the bureaucracy.
His transition team, led by Dean Fuleihan, is already hitting roadblocks. Business leaders are terrified. There’s already talk of "capital flight" if he tries to hike taxes on those earning over $1 million. On the flip side, the progressives who put him there are expecting immediate results on the rent freeze.
Basically, the honeymoon period is going to be about five minutes long.
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Why the 2025 Candidates Matter for 2026 and Beyond
This election wasn't just about New York. It was a test case for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). By winning the biggest city in the country, they’ve proven that their "insurgent" style can actually take down the biggest names in the Democratic Party.
Brad Lander is already looking at the 2026 primary for the 10th Congressional District. He’s planning to challenge Dan Goldman from the left, bolstered by Mamdani’s success. The "Mamdani effect" is real, and it’s going to ripple through the 2026 midterms.
Real Insights for New York Voters
If you're trying to figure out what this means for your daily life, here is the reality of the situation:
- Rent Stabilized Tenants: Expect a push for a 0% increase in the next Rent Guidelines Board cycle. Whether it holds up in court is a different story, but the intention is there.
- Commuters: The "free bus" pilot program is likely to expand quickly. Keep an eye on the B52 and other high-volume routes.
- Public Safety: This is the big question mark. Mamdani wants "comprehensive reform," which his critics call "defunding." The relationship between City Hall and the NYPD is going to be incredibly tense starting January 1st.
The 2025 race for mayor of NYC candidates proved that the old playbook is dead. You can't just buy the seat with name recognition and TV ads anymore. You need a base that feels like you’re actually going to fix the fact that they can't afford to live here.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Monitor the Transition: Visit
transition2025.comto see who Mamdani is appointing to key commissioner roles. These appointments will tell you if he's moving toward the center or staying firmly on the left. - Check Your Rent Status: If you live in a rent-stabilized apartment, keep a close watch on the Rent Guidelines Board meetings in early 2026. This will be the first major test of the new mayor's "rent freeze" promise.
- Prepare for Transit Changes: If you rely on MTA buses, look for announcements regarding the "Fare-Free NYC" expansions, as these will likely be implemented in phases across the boroughs.