NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani made history Tuesday by earning the most total votes ever recorded in a New York City mayoral primary, according to newly released ranked-choice voting totals from the city Board of Elections. The Queens Assemblyman secured 565,639 votes after three rounds of ranked-choice voting, surpassing the previous record of 547,901 set by David Dinkins in 1989.
Mamdani’s campaign called the victory a mandate for progressive policies across the city. The updated vote tally shows Mamdani received a significant boost in the third round of ranked-choice voting, with over 102,000 votes transferred to him from eliminated candidates. He finished with 56.2% of the vote, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who received 440,655 votes, or 43.8%.
“With the updated RCV totals just released by the Board of Elections, our campaign has officially earned the most total votes in a primary in New York City history,” Mamdani posted on X. This election marks only the second time ranked-choice voting has been used in a New York City mayoral primary.
The voting method allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no one wins a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed. This process continues until one candidate secures over 50% of the vote. Mamdani’s campaign focused heavily on affordability and public services. He pledged to freeze citywide rent, offer taxpayer-funded childcare, and make public transportation faster and free.
“This movement made history on election night,” Mamdani said in a statement. “We will fulfill our promises to lower costs and build a city that working people can afford.”
Mamdani, who represents Astoria and Long Island City in the New York State Assembly, is known for advocating tenant protections and opposing utility rate hikes. He has also pushed for increased subsidies for public transportation. His strong left-leaning platform has made him a polarizing figure. Still, his wide margin of victory signals growing support for progressive politics in New York City.
Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledged Mamdani’s win and said she had a “productive” conversation with him about shared goals, including making life more affordable for New Yorkers. She also said Mamdani “understands the need” to engage with Jewish communities that feel vulnerable.
Not all reactions were positive. President Donald Trump criticized Mamdani on Truth Social, calling him a “Communist Lunatic.” He also warned that New York could lose federal funding under Mamdani’s leadership. Hochul responded firmly, saying, “We’re New Yorkers, we’re not going to be intimidated by threats from Washington, not now, not ever.”
Cuomo’s campaign signaled it may not be the end of the road. “Most New Yorkers are not Trumpers, and most New Yorkers are not socialists — the majority lies in the middle,” campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi said. “We will continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York.”
As the general election approaches, all eyes are on whether Cuomo or other centrist Democrats will launch independent bids. With Mamdani’s clear lead in the Democratic primary, any challenge would face a steep uphill battle.
In the 2021 mayoral primary, current Mayor Eric Adams needed eight rounds to win with just over 404,000 votes. That makes Mamdani’s three-round, record-breaking victory all the more striking. The Board of Elections’ updated ranked-choice voting totals have reshaped the political conversation in the city. Whether this momentum carries Mamdani to City Hall remains to be seen, but his historic primary win has already set a new standard in New York City politics.
