New York City just underwent its most seismic political shift in decades. If you’ve been following the news, you know the city is currently under new management. Zohran Mamdani is leading New York City as its 111th mayor. He didn't just win; he shattered expectations. Honestly, the race was a chaotic, high-stakes drama that felt more like a prestige TV thriller than a standard election cycle.
For months, the big question was who is leading the nyc mayor race as Eric Adams’ administration faced federal indictments and plummeting approval ratings. The answer shifted from "the incumbent" to "the former governor" and finally to a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist who galvanized a base of young, fed-up New Yorkers.
Mamdani took office on January 1, 2026. He is now the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in the city’s history. He is also the youngest person to hold the office since 1892. It's a massive change for a city used to seasoned political insiders.
How the Race Was Won: The Final Numbers
The general election on November 4, 2025, wasn't as close as some pundits predicted in the final weeks. Despite a late-game surge of money and endorsements for his main rival, Mamdani secured a definitive majority.
Look at the breakdown from the New York City Board of Elections:
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- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat/Working Families): 1,114,184 votes (50.78%)
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent - "Fight and Deliver"): 906,614 votes (41.32%)
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican): 153,749 votes (7.01%)
- Eric Adams (Independent/Write-in): 6,897 votes (0.3%)
Mamdani became the first candidate since 1969 to pull more than a million votes. That’s huge. It suggests a level of engagement we haven't seen in a generation. Voter turnout hit 43.47%, a jump of over 20 percentage points from the previous cycle. Basically, the "youth vote" stopped being a myth and became a reality.
The Dramatic Exit of Eric Adams
You can't talk about who led the race without talking about the person who fell out of it. Mayor Eric Adams started 2025 with plans for a standard reelection. Then the federal indictment hit in late 2024. Charges of bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations turned City Hall into a legal bunker.
By April 2025, things got weird. Adams left the Democratic primary to run as an independent. He claimed he was being targeted by "the establishment." However, the public wasn't buying it. Marist polls showed his approval rating bottoming out at 26%. By September 2025, just weeks before the general election, he officially suspended his campaign. He even endorsed Andrew Cuomo on his way out. But because he withdrew so late, his name stayed on the ballot. He ended up with less than 1% of the vote.
The Cuomo Comeback That Almost Was
Andrew Cuomo’s entry into the race was the definition of "New York tough." He lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June 2025 in what everyone called a major upset. Most people thought that was the end. Nope. Cuomo launched his own "Fight and Deliver" party line.
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He pitched himself as the adult in the room. He talked about his experience as governor. He received endorsements from Michael Bloomberg and even a bizarre, unwanted endorsement from Donald Trump. Cuomo’s platform was classic centrism:
- Hiring 5,000 more NYPD officers.
- Building 80,000 units of housing.
- Cracking down on e-bike violations.
He called Mamdani’s rent-freeze proposal a "gimmick." He did well in Staten Island and parts of the Bronx, but it wasn't enough to stop the momentum coming out of Brooklyn and Queens.
Why Mamdani’s Leading Now
Mamdani’s platform was radically different. He didn't just talk about "affordability"; he promised to use the city's power to force it. He campaigned on:
- Rent Freezes: A total freeze on rent-stabilized units.
- Free Transit: Expanding the "Free Bus" pilot programs citywide.
- Taxing the Rich: A flat 2% tax on New Yorkers earning over $1 million.
- Public Safety: Moving away from the NYPD's Strategic Response Group and toward a Department of Community Safety focused on mental health.
The demographics tell the story. Among voters aged 18-34, Mamdani had 63% support. Among Asian voters, he hit 64%. He managed to bridge the gap between progressive activists and immigrant communities who felt ignored by the previous administration.
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What This Means for New York in 2026
Now that the dust has settled and Mamdani is in Gracie Mansion, the city is watching his first 100 days. Transitioning from an activist Assemblyman to the CEO of a city with a $112 billion budget is no small feat. He’s already faced pushback from the real estate board and the police unions.
But for those who were asking who is leading the nyc mayor race throughout 2025, the answer is clear. The city chose a path of radical change over the status quo.
Next Steps for New Yorkers:
- Track the Rent Guidelines Board: Watch for the upcoming hearings in the spring. Mamdani's promise of a rent freeze will face its first legal and bureaucratic test there.
- Monitor the "Free Bus" Expansion: The city is expected to announce the next phase of fare-free routes by March. Check the MTA updates to see if your local line is included.
- Budget Hearings: New York's new fiscal plan will be debated in the City Council this February. This is where the "Tax the Rich" proposals will actually become law or get watered down.