ABC News projects that Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani will win the race for New York City mayor, in a historic victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani, 34, a state assemblyman and democratic socialist who campaigned on a progressive economic platform, will become the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor in an election in which more than 2 million voters filled the polls, the largest turnout in a mayoral election since 1969.
New York City mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo, October 7, 2025, Zohran Mamdani, October 8, 2025, and Curtis Sliwa, September 13, 2025
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With around 60% of the expected votes, Mamdani was leading with 50% of the votes, followed by Cuomo with 42% and Sliwa with 8%.
Mamdani had remained a favorite since winning the Democratic primary and won key endorsements from figures such as Governor Kathy Hochul. But he faced some backlash over the viability of his proposals and his current or former views on issues such as policing.
Cuomo, 67, had attempted a political comeback, after leaving the public spotlight when he resigned as governor in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. He has presented himself as a moderate who can leverage his previous experience as governor to achieve results.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, separately, rejected calls to drop out of the race and argued that he is above the fray of other candidates; he faced incumbent Eric Adams in 2021.
Adams himself decided not to run in the Democratic primary and initially organized an independent campaign, but suspended his campaign in late September, saying media speculation and funds withheld by the city’s campaign finance board undermined his ability to raise funds.
