NEW YORK (Diya TV) — South Asian politician Zohran Mamdani declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday night, pulling off a stunning upset over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo conceded late Tuesday as Mamdani maintained a commanding lead in first-choice ballots, with strong momentum expected to carry him through the ranked-choice tally.

“Tonight, we made history,” Mamdani told a crowd of supporters. “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City.”

The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist — once relatively unknown outside activist circles — has emerged as a major figure in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. His victory marks a seismic political moment in the city, four years after Cuomo resigned from office amid sexual harassment allegations.

“Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won,” Cuomo told his supporters after placing far behind Mamdani in first-choice votes.

According to unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections, Mamdani not only led in first-choice ballots but also appeared as the second-choice candidate for tens of thousands more voters. With over 200,000 ballots only listing a single candidate, the pool of redistributed votes is expected to shrink — increasing the likelihood that Mamdani will cross the 50% threshold outright in early ranked-choice rounds.

The win comes despite a wave of controversies in the final weeks of the campaign. Mamdani faced criticism over alleged funding links to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and was repeatedly accused by opponents of harboring Hinduphobic and antisemitic views.

Mamdani’s campaign focused sharply on addressing the city’s cost of living crisis and garnered endorsements from prominent national progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Cuomo, once the frontrunner thanks to his name recognition, experience, and fundraising network, struggled to gain traction. The race ultimately underscored a shifting political landscape — one where grassroots energy and progressive messaging triumphed over establishment power.

With the Democratic nomination secured, Mamdani now turns his focus to the general election. His victory offers a glimpse into the kind of leadership Democratic voters are leaning toward in an era shaped by President Donald Trump’s second term.

Mamdani ran a series of social media ads targeting South Asian voters and the effort paid off, as nearly 80% of AAPI voters turned out for the son of famed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. Under New York election law, Cuomo may still run for mayor, but not under the Democrat moniker. 

Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, whose first term was plagued by an indictment that has now been dropped, spoke to Diya TV Sunday and says he “respected” the Indian American community. With Mamdani winning over AAPI voters substantially, New York’s next mayor will need to spend the next few months ahead of the November election courting the City’s diverse electorate.