Zohran Mamdani: 'Trump's worst nightmare' set to win New York mayoral race, NBC projects
NBC News projects a win for the Democrat candidate, who ran on a significantly left-wing platform which included promising city-owned grocery shops and eliminating bus fares.
Wednesday 5 November 2025 04:43, UK
Democrat Zohran Mamdani - who described himself as "Trump's worst nightmare" - is set to become New York's next mayor, Sky's US partner network NBC News projects.
The projected win - with 60.2% of votes counted - comes after one of the most colourful races in years and looks set to have a profound effect on US national politics.
Mr Mamdani will be the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest person in a century to be elected as New York City mayor, and will be sworn in on New Years Day.
More than two million people voted in this year's general election, according to the New York Board of Elections. In 2021, the turnout was just under 1.15 million.
The first reaction from the Democrat came on social media while votes were still being counted, where Mr Mamdani posted a video of a subway coming to a stop as a tannoy says: "The next and last stop is: City Hall."
Mayor-elect tells Trump 'turn the volume up'
Taking the stage in Brooklyn after 11.45pm (4.15am in the UK), Mr Mamdani said: "The sun may have set over our city this evening, but as Eugene Debs once said, 'I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity'."
He added: "Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.
"I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and serves only the few."
Mr Mamdani goes on to thank "the next generation of New Yorkers," adding: "We will fight for you, because we are you."
"We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible," he then said.
After he touts his agenda as mayor - including "fast and free" buses, frozen rents on some housing, and state-run grocery stores - Mr Mamdani also attacks US President Donald Trump.
"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," he said.
"This is not only how we stop Trump. It's how we stop the next one. So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: 'Turn the volume up'."
On Truth Social, the US president said in response: "...AND SO IT BEGINS!"
After the current Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, announced he would run as an independent after a corruption scandal, Andrew Cuomo emerged as frontrunner to take the party's nomination.
He was looking to rebuild his career after resigning as governor of New York State in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment.
But in a major upset, relative outsider Mr Mamdani took the nomination instead, and became the favourite for mayor. Cuomo then chose to run as an independent.
Read more:
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Will Mamdani inspire Democrats' strategy?
On the eve of the election, Mr Trump said Mr Mamdani - who is known for left-wing policies and campaigning on issues like affordable housing - would bring "disaster" to the city.
He encouraged backers of Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate who trailed in polling, to transfer their votes to Mr Cuomo instead.
While some Democrats avoided endorsing Mr Mamdani, he won support from progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who helped canvass for the 34-year-old by phone banks.
Cuomo: 'This campaign was the right fight to wage'
In his concession speech at around 10.45pm (3.45am in the UK), Mr Cuomo thanked his supporters - who he called "superstars" and "New York patriots" - before saying he was "proud" of his campaign.
"This campaign was the right fight to wage, and I am proud of what we did and what we did together," he said, attacking Mr Mamdani.
"This campaign was to contest the philosophies that are shaping the Democratic Party, the future of this city and the future of this country."
The former governor then touted his campaign of "unity," before saying New Yorkers "will not tolerate any behaviour that fans the flames of antisemitism".
Boos rang out as Mr Cuomo ended by congratulating Mr Mamdani, prompting him to say: "This is not us... Tonight was their night."
Democrats win key Governor races
New York's mayoral race was one of four elections on Tuesday serving as a bellwether referendum on Mr Trump's second term as president.
Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won their races to become state governors in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively.
The US president's first reaction to the Democratic wins across the country came on Truth Social.
He repeated claims from "pollsters" that said the US government shutdown, and the fact he "wasn't on the ballot", were the two reasons Republicans lost.
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