In a groundbreaking electoral triumph, Zohran Mamdani has been elected as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, marking a significant shift in the city’s political landscape. Mamdani’s victory was fueled by overwhelming support across four of the city’s five boroughs, with Staten Island being the sole exception. He outperformed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo by substantial margins, securing 10 percentage points in Manhattan, 20 in Brooklyn, 11 in the Bronx, and 5 in Queens. This win underscores Mamdani’s ability to bridge diverse communities and build a broad coalition of voters. Despite Cuomo’s efforts to appeal to traditional Democratic strongholds and his emphasis on his Italian-American heritage and Catholic faith, Mamdani’s progressive platform resonated strongly with younger voters and key demographic groups. Exit polls revealed a stark generational divide, with Mamdani capturing 78% of voters aged 18-29, compared to Cuomo’s 18%. Women in this age group overwhelmingly favored Mamdani, with 84% casting their ballots in his favor. Mamdani also made significant inroads among Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities, securing 61%, 57%, and 47% of their votes, respectively. While Cuomo maintained support among white voters and religious groups like Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, Mamdani dominated among those with no religious affiliation and other religious minorities. His success in traditionally underserved neighborhoods, such as Brooklyn’s Brownsville, further highlighted his ability to connect with economically disadvantaged communities. Despite Cuomo’s attempts to portray Mamdani as a threat to the city’s affluent residents, Mamdani performed well in affluent Manhattan neighborhoods like the West Village, Chelsea, and Greenwich Village. This historic victory, with over one million votes, marks the first time since 1969 that a mayoral candidate has achieved such widespread support.
New York City election breakdown: Mamdani won over Blacks, Hispanics and young voters
