Politics in New York is basically a blood sport. If you followed the NYC mayoral dem primary this past June, you know it wasn't just a standard election; it was a total vibe shift for the city. For a long time, everyone assumed the "establishment" or a big-name comeback kid would just waltz into City Hall. They were wrong.
Actually, they were spectacularly wrong.
The 2025 primary was defined by chaos, a massive federal investigation, and the rise of a democratic socialist that almost nobody—outside of Astoria, anyway—saw coming a year ago. Honestly, the story of how Zohran Mamdani went from a long-shot State Assemblymember to the Democratic nominee is the kind of thing political consultants will be arguing about for the next decade.
The Incumbent Who Wasn't There
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Eric Adams. You've probably heard about the legal drama. By late 2024, the Mayor was facing a federal indictment that basically blew the race wide open. It’s wild to think about now, but for a minute there, it looked like the city was in total freefall.
Then came the twist.
In April 2025, after the Department of Justice actually requested the dismissal of his charges (arguing they were a distraction from federal immigration enforcement), Adams didn't just go back to business as usual. He pulled a shocker and withdrew from the NYC mayoral dem primary altogether. He decided to run as an independent, which basically left the Democratic field to eat each other alive.
It was a power vacuum. And in New York, a power vacuum is just an invitation for a brawl.
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Why the Andrew Cuomo Comeback Failed
If you were betting on the race in March, you probably put your money on Andrew Cuomo. The former Governor has name recognition that most politicians would kill for. He had a war chest of nearly $9 million, plus a super PAC funded by guys like Michael Bloomberg that was throwing around another $25 million.
Cuomo’s pitch was simple: "I know how the pipes work." He focused on crime, infrastructure, and "fighting antisemitism." He had big-name endorsements from Bill Clinton and Jim Clyburn. On paper, he was the guy to beat.
But the primary showed that New Yorkers have a very short memory for "experience" and a very long memory for "baggage." During the debates on June 4 and June 12, the other candidates didn't let him breathe. They hammered him on the nursing home scandal and the sexual harassment allegations that forced him out of Albany in the first place.
Cuomo was the frontrunner in every poll until the very end. But "frontrunner" is a dangerous title in a ranked-choice voting system. People either loved him or they absolutely refused to put him on their ballot.
The Zohran Mamdani Surge
While everyone was watching Cuomo and the more traditional challengers like Comptroller Brad Lander or Speaker Adrienne Adams, Zohran Mamdani was quietly building a literal army of young voters.
He didn't look like a mayor. He didn't talk like one either.
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Mamdani’s platform was, frankly, radical for some. He wanted a total rent freeze. He wanted free buses across the entire city. He even suggested city-owned grocery stores to fight inflation. It sounds like a progressive fever dream, right? But for New Yorkers paying $4,000 for a studio apartment, it sounded like a lifeline.
The Strategy That Changed Everything
Mamdani used a "no-rank" strategy against Cuomo and Adams, famously supported by the "DREAM for NYC" (Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor) campaign. But his real genius was the "cross-endorsement."
- The Progressive Pact: Mamdani and Brad Lander cross-endorsed each other for second place.
- The Grassroots Push: He got Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders to show up on the ground.
- The Visuals: His campaign ditched the red-white-and-blue for neon, local-business-inspired colors.
On June 20, just days before the vote, Mamdani walked the entire length of Manhattan—seven hours straight—meeting people. It was a stunt, sure, but it worked.
What Happened on Election Night?
The NYC mayoral dem primary on June 24, 2025, ended up being the largest primary in the city’s history. The turnout was nearly as high as the 2021 general election.
When the first-choice votes were counted, Mamdani had a massive lead: 43.8% to Cuomo's 36.1%. Because of Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV), we had to wait for the transfers.
| Candidate | First Round % | Final Round % |
|---|---|---|
| Zohran Mamdani | 43.8% | 56.4% |
| Andrew Cuomo | 36.1% | 43.6% |
| Brad Lander | 11.3% | Eliminated |
The transfer was brutal for Cuomo. Most of the people who voted for Lander, Zellnor Myrie, or Jessica Ramos put Mamdani as their second or third choice. They did not put Cuomo.
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By the time the final round finished in July, Mamdani was the clear winner with 56.4% of the vote. Cuomo conceded the primary but—in classic Cuomo fashion—stayed in the general election on his own "Fight and Deliver" party line.
The Real Issues That Moved the Needle
It wasn't just about personalities. The city is feeling "too expensive," and that sentiment dominated every forum.
- Housing: This was the #1 issue. While Cuomo talked about building more, Mamdani talked about freezing costs right now.
- Public Safety: Zellnor Myrie tried to bridge the gap by promising to hire 3,000 new cops, but it didn't land. Voters were split between "more police" (Cuomo) and "community safety departments" (Mamdani).
- The "Trump-Proofing" Factor: With the 2024 election still fresh, Mamdani’s promise to "Trump-proof" NYC's social services resonated deeply with the base.
Why This Matters for the Future
This election effectively killed the idea that a moderate "Bloomberg-style" Democrat can easily win NYC just by outspending everyone. Cuomo spent nearly $22 million in the primary alone. Mamdani spent a fraction of that, relying instead on 3,000+ small-dollar donors.
It also proved that Ranked-Choice Voting is the great equalizer. You can't just win with a loyal 35% base if the other 65% of the city hates you. You have to be someone’s second choice.
If you're looking to understand where the city is headed, keep an eye on the New York City Board of Elections website for the full precinct-by-precinct breakdown of the 2025 data. It shows a massive generational divide—voters under 50 went for Mamdani by over 60%, while the older crowd stayed with Cuomo.
The next step for anyone following this is to look at the turnout maps in Eastern Queens and the South Bronx. These areas, which used to be the "Adams base," shifted toward the progressive wing in ways we haven't seen before. If you want to engage in the local process, start attending your Community Board meetings; that's where the housing policies Mamdani campaigned on will actually be fought over.