So, you’re looking to find out who won the ny primaries, right? Honestly, if you haven’t been glued to the local news lately, the answer might actually floor you. It wasn't the "business as usual" crowd taking home the gold this time.
New York politics basically just had a massive earthquake. We aren't talking about a little tremor, either. The Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City ended with Zohran Mamdani standing on top of the mountain. Yeah, the 34-year-old state assemblyman and democratic socialist. He didn't just win; he knocked out some of the biggest heavyweights in the game.
The Shocking Primary Results You Need to Know
The biggest headline is obviously the NYC Mayoral primary. It was a dogfight. You had Andrew Cuomo trying to pull off the ultimate political comeback, and for a while, it actually looked like he might do it. He was leading in the early polls back in June 2025. People thought his name recognition would carry him through.
But then the votes started coming in.
Mamdani pulled off a major upset. He grabbed about 43.8% of the vote in the first round, eventually climbing to a decisive 56.39% in the final round of ranked-choice voting. He left Cuomo in the dust, who only managed around 43.6% in that final stretch.
Here’s the kicker: Cuomo didn't just pack up and go home. After losing the Democratic primary, he launched an independent bid for the general election, but Mamdani beat him there too. As of January 2026, Mamdani is officially the Mayor, having been sworn in by Senator Bernie Sanders on New Year’s Day.
Other Key Winners in the Mix
While everyone was staring at the Mayoral race, a few other people were quietly—or loudly—winning their own battles.
- Brad Lander: The City Comptroller put up a fight but was eliminated in the third round of the primary.
- Adrienne Adams: She stayed in the race but couldn't quite catch the momentum of the top two.
- Sean Ryan: Over in Buffalo, he locked down the mayor’s race, proving that the progressive wave wasn't just limited to the Five Boroughs.
- Alvin Bragg: The Manhattan DA who’s been in the national spotlight for his cases against Donald Trump easily won his reelection primary and the general.
Why These Wins Actually Matter for 2026
If you're wondering why we're still talking about this in early 2026, it's because these primary wins set the stage for the 2026 New York Gubernatorial election.
Governor Kathy Hochul is looking at these results and sweating a little. She’s watching the progressive wing of her party gain a ton of ground. She’s already facing a primary challenge from her own Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado.
On the other side of the aisle, the Republicans are smelling blood. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is the frontrunner for the GOP. He’s got the Trump endorsement and is basically running on a platform of "New York is too expensive and unsafe."
Basically, the primary winners from 2025 have completely shifted the vibe of the state. You’ve got a socialist running the biggest city in the world, a centrist Governor trying to keep her seat, and a Trump-aligned challenger gaining steam in the suburbs. It’s a mess, but it’s a fascinating one.
What Most People Get Wrong About the NY Primaries
A lot of folks think these wins were just about "voter anger." That’s part of it, sure. But the real story is turnout. The 2025 primaries saw the highest voter turnout for a mayoral race since 1993.
Young voters flooded the polls. They weren't interested in the old-school political machines. They wanted Mamdani’s plans for rent freezes on rent-stabilized units and a flat 2% tax on New Yorkers making over $1 million. Whether those plans actually happen is another story, but that’s what got people to show up.
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Also, don't buy the narrative that the GOP is dead in NY. While they lost the big city races, they are consolidating power in places like Long Island. Bruce Blakeman’s double-digit win in Nassau County is a huge warning sign for Democrats heading into the 2026 statewide races.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to keep track of how these winners are actually doing now that they're in office, here is your checklist:
- Watch the Budget: Mayor Mamdani is about to drop his first big budget proposal. Watch how he tries to fund those housing plans without alienating the real estate industry (spoiler: they're already upset).
- Follow the Hochul vs. Delgado Feud: This primary is going to be the main event of 2026. If Delgado pulls off what Mamdani did, the Democratic party in NY will look completely different by next year.
- Check Your Registration: The next big New York primary is June 23, 2026. If you want a say in who becomes the next Governor, you need to be registered with a party by the April 6 deadline.
New York politics moves fast. One day you're the frontrunner, the next you're an independent candidate losing to a guy who used to be a foreclosure prevention counselor. Keep your eyes on the 2026 primary—it's going to be a wild ride.