Zohran Mamdani won the highly anticipated New York City mayoral election, defeating independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, according to projections by the Associated Press. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, will make history as the city’s first Muslim mayor — a landmark moment for representation in one of the world’s most diverse cities.
Mamdani’s victory speech struck both celebratory and defiant tones, as he directly addressed U.S. 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 declared. “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’.” The comments prompted Trump to respond on Truth Social with a brief but charged message: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Mamdani’s key allies, also reacted passionately, saying, “The people of New York came together, and we said, ‘You don’t threaten New York.’” She highlighted the city’s new priorities: affordable healthcare, universal baby boxes for new parents, and reduced grocery costs.
Economic Reforms: Freezing Rent and Taxing Wealth
At the core of Mamdani’s campaign is an ambitious socio-economic platform designed to tackle inequality in New York City, where over 2 million residents live in rent-stabilized housing. Mamdani has pledged to “immediately freeze the rent” across this housing sector to combat the ongoing affordability crisis.
Another key proposal involves making all city buses permanently free of charge. The plan includes expanding priority bus lanes to improve efficiency and reduce commute times, aiming to cut congestion and carbon emissions.
In the realm of family welfare, Mamdani’s administration plans to introduce free childcare for all New Yorkers aged six weeks to five years, while raising wages for childcare workers — a measure expected to reduce gender disparities in the workforce.
To address food insecurity, the mayor-elect has also promised the creation of “city-owned grocery stores” focused on providing affordable groceries. The initiative is seen as a countermeasure to inflation and the growing dominance of private retail chains.
To finance these programs, Mamdani will “raise the corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent” and impose a “flat 2 percent tax” on individuals earning over one million dollars annually. Economists suggest this could generate hundreds of millions in additional municipal revenue, but critics warn it may test the city’s business competitiveness.
Cover: Mamdani, photo by Kara McCurdy