So, you’re looking to find out who won the race for mayor in New York City. It’s been a wild ride, hasn't it? Honestly, if you blinked at any point during the 2025 election cycle, you probably missed a dozen plot twists that felt more like a prestige TV drama than a local municipal race.
Basically, the 112th Mayor of New York City is Zohran Mamdani.
He was sworn in on January 1, 2026. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he was that young state assemblymember from Astoria who basically came out of nowhere to shake up the entire Democratic establishment. He didn't just win; he shattered records.
The Numbers Behind the Victory
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of the final results because the data is actually pretty staggering. For the first time since 1969, we saw more than two million New Yorkers actually show up to vote. That’s a massive turnout for a city that usually struggles to get people to the polls for anything other than a presidential race.
In the general election held on November 4, 2025, Mamdani pulled in 1,114,184 votes. That gave him roughly 50.8% of the total.
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His main rival wasn't even the Republican nominee. It was former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent under the "Fight and Deliver" banner after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary. Cuomo managed to snag 906,614 votes (41.3%).
Poor Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, ended up with about 7% of the vote. And if you’re wondering what happened to the incumbent, Eric Adams, he technically got about 6,897 votes even though he’d dropped out of the race months earlier. His name stayed on the ballot because he withdrew too late for the Board of Elections to swap it out.
Why This Win Was Such a Shock
Nobody—and I mean nobody—saw this coming back in early 2025. Andrew Cuomo was the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for a long time. People thought his political comeback was inevitable.
But then Mamdani, a 34-year-old self-described democratic socialist, started gaining serious traction. He leaned hard into an "affordability agenda." He talked about things that actually keep New Yorkers up at night: rent that’s too high, subways that are too slow, and a cost of living that makes it impossible to raise a family.
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He won the June primary in a massive upset. Even after that, Cuomo didn't back down. He launched that independent bid, and for a few months there, it looked like the city was going to be split right down the middle.
Ultimately, Mamdani’s coalition was just too strong. He dominated in four out of the five boroughs. Brooklyn was his biggest stronghold, which makes sense given his roots and the borough's shifting demographics. Cuomo really only took Staten Island, which is typical for a more centrist or right-leaning candidate in NYC.
Breaking Barriers in City Hall
It's not just about the win; it's about what the win represents. Zohran Mamdani is now the first Muslim and the first South Asian mayor in the history of New York City. He’s also the youngest mayor the city has seen since 1892.
That's a huge shift for a city hall that has been dominated by the same political circles for decades.
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During his victory speech, he promised what he called "relentless improvement." He wasn't just talking about policy; he was talking about changing the vibe of how the city is run. He’s already started making big moves, like appointing Jessica Tisch as Police Commissioner and Rafael Espinal to lead the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.
What the Voters Liked
- Rent Control: He’s been very vocal about wanting to freeze rents on rent-stabilized units.
- Public Transit: He’s pushing for a massive expansion of subway services and even fare-free pilots.
- Wealth Tax: He suggested a 2% tax on New Yorkers making over $1 million, which definitely ruffled some feathers in the luxury real estate world.
What’s Next for NYC?
Now that the dust has settled and the transition is over, all eyes are on Gracie Mansion. The mayor and the First Lady, Rama Duwaji, moved in just a couple of weeks ago.
The big question now is whether he can actually deliver on that "affordability agenda" without hitting a wall of opposition in the City Council or up in Albany. New York politics is a blood sport, and winning the race is usually the easy part.
If you’re a New Yorker, you’re probably already seeing the shifts. He’s been showing up at picket lines—like the recent nurses' strike—and trying to position himself as a "mayor for the working class." It’s a high-wire act, for sure.
Actionable Insights for New Yorkers
- Watch the Rent Guidelines Board: If you’re in a rent-stabilized apartment, the next few months will be critical. Mamdani’s appointments to this board will signal exactly how serious he is about that rent freeze.
- Monitor Subway Service: Keep an eye on the MTA's budget. The mayor is pushing for more city funding to increase frequency, which could mean shorter wait times on your morning commute.
- Get Involved in Community Safety: The new administration is leaning heavily into a "Department of Community Safety" model. Look for local town halls if you want a say in how your neighborhood is policed.
The 2025 race changed the trajectory of the city. Whether you voted for him or not, the "Mamdani era" is officially here, and it looks like it's going to be anything but boring.