Indian-American and self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a landmark upset.

Mamdani, 33, now poised to become the city’s first Indian-American and Muslim mayor, ran on a progressive platform centered on rent freezes, affordable living, and taxing the rich. Backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, his grassroots campaign resonated with working-class voters, aided by viral, multilingual social media outreach.

Cuomo, long considered a party heavyweight, conceded after polling just 36.4%. His campaign was marred by past controversies, muted public appearances, and a heavy reliance on corporate-funded attack ads.

Mamdani’s victory signals a shift within the Democratic base, as left-leaning voters reject establishment figures in favor of bold, inclusive politics. His strong pro-Palestine stance, administrative inexperience, and clashes with ICE have drawn criticism, yet his message of direct, people-first governance has dominated headlines.

The formal result of the ranked-choice vote is expected by July 1. Mamdani will likely face current Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November general election.