- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:21 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded New York City's Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani as the 33-year-old Indian-American member of the state Assembly had a significant lead in the race Tuesday night. Cuomo's concession came as the race's outcome will be decided by a ranked-choice count after neither Democrat got a clear majority in the vote.
Who is Zohran Mamdan?
Mamdani, was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian-Ugandan parents, Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor, and Mira Nair, an acclaimed filmmaker. He moved to New York City at age seven, became a US citizen in 2018, and is a Shia Muslim of the Twelver branch. A member of the Democratic Party and Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani has served as a New York State Assemblymember for the 36th district in Queens since 2021, after defeating a four-term incumbent in 2020.
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Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist member of the state Assembly, started to pull ahead with more than an estimated 80 per cent of ballots counted. Cuomo, in a speech to supporters, said Mamdani “won” and that “we are going to take a look and make some decisions”.
“Tonight is his night,” Cuomo said. Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if elected.
Cuomo's sex scandal case
Cuomo is trying to make a comeback from a sexual harassment scandal. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams skipped the primary. He's running as an independent. The race's ultimate outcome could say something about what kind of leader Democrats are looking for during President Donald Trump's second term.
The vote takes place about four years after Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor following a sexual harassment scandal. Yet he has been the favourite throughout the race, with his deep experience, name recognition, strong political connections and juggernaut fundraising apparatus. The party's progressive wing, meanwhile, had coalesced behind Mamdani. A relatively unknown state legislator when the contest began, Mamdani gained momentum by running a sharp campaign laser-focused on the city's high cost of living and secured endorsements from two of the country's foremost progressives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senetor Bernie Sanders.
The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump's Justice Department.
Mamdani's energetic run has been hard not to notice.
His army of young canvassers relentlessly knocked on doors throughout the city seeking support. Posters of his grinning mug were up on shop windows. You couldn't get on social media without seeing one of his well-produced videos pitching his vision-- free buses, free child care, new apartments, a higher minimum wage and more, paid for by new taxes on rich people.
Mamdani's controversial steps
Critics have also taken aim at Mamdani's support for Palestinian human rights. In response, Mamdani has slammed Cuomo over his sexual harassment scandal and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In one heated debate exchange, Cuomo rattled off a long list of what he saw as Mamdani's managerial shortcomings, arguing that his opponent, who has been in the state Assembly since 2021, has never dealt with Congress or unions and never overseen an infrastructure project. He added that Mamdani couldn't be relied upon to go toe-to-toe with Trump. Mamdani had a counter ready. “To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace,” he said.
Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report commissioned by the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. He has always maintained that he didn't intentionally harass the women, saying he had simply fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct.
During the campaign, he has become more aggressive in defending himself, framing the situation as a political hit job orchestrated by his enemies. The fresh scandal at City Hall involving Mayor Eric Adams, though, gave Cuomo a path to end his exile.
(With inputs from agency)
