NEW YORK(National times)- Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on Tuesday, capping a stunning ascent for the 34-year-old state lawmaker, who is set to become the city’s most liberal mayor in generations. In a victory for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He must now navigate the unending demands of America’s largest city and deliver on ambitious — critics say unrealistic — campaign promises. Democratic Assembly member Mamdani has twice defeated Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as governor in the face of sexual harassment allegations, in New York City’s mayoral race. With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on January 1st. Mamdani’s unlikely rise gives credence to Democrats who have urged the party to embrace more progressive, left-wing candidates instead of rallying behind centrists in hopes of winning back swing voters who have abandoned the party. He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party. The contest drove the highest turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, with more than two million New Yorkers casting ballots, according to the city’s Board of Elections. Mayor-elect Mamdani, in the meanwhile, received congratulatory messages from former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Former president Barack Obama congratulated all “Democrats who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win.”
CHARISMA THAT SPOILED CUOMO
Mamdani’s grassroots campaign centred on affordability, and his charisma spoiled Cuomo’s attempted political comeback. The former governor, who resigned four years ago following allegations of sexual harassment that he continues to deny, was dogged by his past throughout the race and was criticised for running a negative campaign. There is also the question of how he will deal with Trump, who threatened to take over the city and to arrest and deport Mamdani if he won. Mamdani was born in Uganda, where he spent his early childhood, but was raised in New York City and became a US citizen in 2018. Mamdani, who was criticised throughout the campaign for his thin résumé, will now have to begin staffing his incoming administration before taking office next year and determine how he plans to accomplish the ambitious but polarising agenda that drove him to victory. Among the campaign’s promises are free childcare, free city bus services, city-run grocery stores and a new Department of Community Safety that would send mental health care workers to handle certain emergency calls rather than police officers. It remains unclear how Mamdani will pay for such initiatives, given Democratic governor Kathy Hochul’s steadfast opposition to his calls to raise taxes on wealthy people. His decisions around the leadership of the New York Police Department will also be closely watched. Mamdani was a fierce critic of the department in 2020, calling for “this rogue agency” to be defunded and labelling it “racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety.” He has since apologised for those comments and said he will ask the current NYPD commissioner to remain in post. Mamdani’s campaign was driven by his optimistic view of the city and his promises to improve the quality of life for its middle and lower classes. But Cuomo, Sliwa and other critics assailed him over his vehement criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Mamdani, a longtime advocate of Palestinian rights, has accused Israel of committing genocide and said he would honour an arrest warrant the International Criminal Court issued for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A RELATIVELY OBSCURE LAWMAKER
Mamdani began his campaign as a relatively obscure state lawmaker, little known even within New York City. Going into the Democratic primary, Cuomo was the presumed favourite, with near-universal name recognition and deep political connections. His chances were buoyed further when incumbent mayor Eric Adams bowed out of the primary while dealing with the fallout of his now-dismissed federal corruption case. But as the race progressed, Mamdani’s natural charm, catchy social media videos and populist economic platform energised voters in the notoriously expensive city. He also began drawing national attention as his name recognition grew.Mamdani ultimately trounced Cuomo in the primary by about 13 points. The former governor relaunched his campaign as an independent candidate for the general election, vowing to hit the streets with a more energetic approach. However, much of his campaign continued to focus on attacking opponents. In the race’s final stretch, he claimed Mamdani’s election would make Jewish residents feel unsafe. Meanwhile, supporters packed Mamdani’s rallies, and he held whimsical events, including a scavenger hunt and a community football tournament. Cuomo also juxtaposed his deep experience in government with Mamdani’s fewer than five years in the state legislature. But the former governor faced his own political baggage, as his opponents dredged up the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation, as well as his decisions during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sliwa, the creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, also had his moments — mostly in the form of humorous quips on the debate stage — but had difficulty gaining traction as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.
