‘Tonight is his night,’ says ex-governor as progressive state representative is top in first round of counting
Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist who would become New York’s first Muslim mayor if elected, appeared set to win the city’s Democratic primary on Tuesday night, although it could be days before the final result is known.
After 91% of votes were counted in the primary’s first round, Mamdani, a state representative, had 43.5% of the vote. Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who had been a heavy favorite until recent weeks, was at 36.4%, and conceded on Tuesday night. Speaking at a campaign rally Cuomo said Mamdani had run a “really smart and good and impactful campaign”.
“Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won,” Cuomo said.. Brad Lander, the progressive New York comptroller, was third with 11.4%.
New York City uses a ranked-choice voting system, and as neither candidate is likely to reach 50%, the board of elections will now tally people’s second-choice candidates. Mamdani, who cross-endorsed with Lander last week, is predicted to benefit more than Cuomo from the count.
