Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Wins Historic NYC Mayoral Race: “the Future Is in Our Hands”
Zohran Mamdani secured a historic victory Tuesday night, winning the New York City mayoral race and defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Speaking at his victory party at the Brooklyn Paramount, Mamdani delivered a rousing speech outlining a bold vision for the city and directly challenging the legacy of Donald Trump.
Mamdani framed his win as the beginning of a “new age” demanding “clarity and conviction” from its leaders,promising a departure from “a list of excuses for what we are too timid to attempt.” Central to his agenda is an enterprising plan to address the city’s cost-of-living crisis, comparable to the efforts of Fiorello La guardia, beginning with a freeze on rents for over 2 million rent-stabilized tenants.
The new mayor positioned his administration as a bulwark against rising authoritarianism, stating, “we can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves.” He specifically called out donald Trump, asserting that New York City, “the city that gave rise to him,” is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how to defeat him and dismantle the conditions that allowed him to gain power.Directly addressing the former president, Mamdani boldly stated, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Mamdani vowed to hold exploitative landlords accountable, characterizing them as “the Donald Trumps of our city” who have become “far too agreeable taking advantage of their tenants.” he also pledged to end corruption that allows billionaires like Trump to avoid taxation and exploit tax breaks, and to strengthen labor protections, recognizing that “when working people have ironclad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed.”
Highlighting the city’s diverse character, Mamdani proudly declared, “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant.” He reinforced this message with a direct challenge to Trump, stating, “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Acknowledging the high expectations for his administration, which will begin in 58 days, Mamdani invoked a quote about the difference between campaigning and governing, stating, “If that must be true, let the prose we write still rhyme, and let us build a shining city for all.” He embraced his unconventional candidacy, acknowledging he is “young,” “Muslim,” and a “democratic socialist,” and firmly declaring, “I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
Mamdani was joined on stage after his speech by his wife, Rama Duwaji, and his parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani.
