It was the kind of night where you could practically feel the floorboards of the city vibrating. On November 4, 2025, New York City didn't just pick a new leader; it basically took a sledgehammer to the status quo.
Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, officially won the race for Mayor of New York City.
He didn't just squeak by. He secured 50.8% of the vote, which translates to over 1.1 million New Yorkers marking his name on their ballots. That’s a massive number. In fact, it's the first time a mayoral candidate has crossed the million-vote threshold since 1969. Mamdani is now the city's 112th mayor, having been sworn in on January 1, 2026.
Honestly, if you had told anyone two years ago that a young millennial from Astoria would be running City Hall, they probably would have laughed. But the numbers don't lie.
The Race for Who Won Mayor of NYC
The path to the 2025 victory was anything but a straight line. It was messy. It was loud. And it was filled with names that most New Yorkers have been hearing for decades.
Mamdani first had to survive a brutal Democratic primary in June 2025. He was up against heavyweights like City Comptroller Brad Lander and the man everyone thought was the frontrunner: former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo was trying for the ultimate political comeback. He had the name recognition. He had the donor network. But in a major upset that sent shockwaves through the state's political establishment, Mamdani beat him.
🔗 Read more: Trump Eliminate Department of Education: What Most People Get Wrong
But it didn't end there. Cuomo didn't just pack up and go home. Instead, he launched an independent campaign under the "Fight and Deliver Party" banner, setting up a wild three-way showdown for the general election in November.
The Final Scoreboard
The general election results were certified in December, and the breakdown shows just how polarized—and energized—the city was:
- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat/WFP): 1,114,184 votes (50.8%)
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent): 906,614 votes (41.3%)
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican): 153,749 votes (7.0%)
What’s wild is the turnout. More than 2.2 million people showed up. That is the highest engagement we've seen since the Giuliani era in 1993. It turns out that when you give New Yorkers a choice between a socialist, a former governor, and a guy in a red beret, they actually show up to the polls.
Why Eric Adams Wasn't the Answer
You're probably wondering what happened to the incumbent. Eric Adams' path to reelection was basically a slow-motion car crash.
Between federal investigations into his campaign and the city's Campaign Finance Board withholding millions in public funds, Adams’ support cratered. He eventually pulled out of the Democratic primary in April 2025.
He didn't totally disappear, though. He tried to run as an independent under the "Safe & Affordable Party," but he eventually suspended that campaign too in late September 2025, after seeing some truly dismal polling numbers. By the time Election Day rolled around, he was an afterthought, receiving just 0.3% of the total vote.
💡 You might also like: Trump Derangement Syndrome Definition: What Most People Get Wrong
Who Is Zohran Mamdani?
He’s not your typical City Hall suit. Mamdani is a former housing counselor who gained notoriety for a hunger strike he did alongside taxi drivers to get them debt relief.
He’s the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history. He’s also the first South Asian mayor. And at 34, he’s the youngest person to hold the office since the 1800s.
Critics were—and still are—terrified of his "affordability agenda." He’s been pushing for things like rent freezes, fare-free subways, and a massive expansion of 3-K and Pre-K programs. To the people who voted for him, he’s a lifeline in a city that’s becoming impossible to afford. To his detractors, he’s a risk to the city’s financial stability.
What This Means for New York Right Now
Now that the dust has settled and the 2026 administration is actually in place, things are moving fast.
Mamdani didn't waste time with his appointments. He picked Dean Fuleihan—a veteran from the de Blasio years—as his First Deputy Mayor. This was seen as a way to calm the nerves of the business community, basically saying, "Hey, I’ve got someone who knows where the light switches are."
He also made waves by appointing Jessica Tisch as Police Commissioner. It’s a move that suggests he’s trying to balance his progressive roots with the practical reality of running a city that’s obsessed with public safety.
📖 Related: Trump Declared War on Chicago: What Really Happened and Why It Matters
The "Mamdani Era" is focusing heavily on:
- Rent Control: Pushing the Rent Guidelines Board for a total freeze.
- Public Transit: Expanding the "Fare Free" pilot programs on buses to more routes.
- Youth Services: Reinstating and expanding universal childcare.
It's a bold play. New York has always been a city of extremes, but the 2025 election proved that the "middle of the road" approach is currently out of style.
Actionable Insights for New Yorkers
Whether you’re a fan of the new mayor or you’re still mourning a Cuomo comeback, the city is changing. Here’s what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Rent Guidelines Board: If you live in a rent-stabilized apartment, the upcoming votes in late spring 2026 will be the first real test of Mamdani's influence.
- Check the MTA pilot programs: More "Free Bus" routes are expected to roll out by summer. If you commute, check the new transit maps to see if your route is on the list.
- Participatory Budgeting: Mamdani’s administration has promised to give local neighborhoods more direct control over how tax dollars are spent. Look for town halls in your borough this quarter.
The question of who won mayor of NYC is settled, but the question of whether his vision for an "affordable city" can actually survive the reality of the New York budget is the story we’ll be watching all year.
Stay engaged with your local Community Board. That’s where the actual implementation of these big City Hall ideas lives or dies. If you want to see if your neighborhood is slated for the new housing or transit projects, their monthly meetings are the place to be.