Tuesday marked a major victory for the Democratic Party in U.S. politics as 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election, surprising many across the country. With this win, Mamdani has become the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Mamdani ran a powerful and energetic campaign, securing 1,035,645 votes (50.4%). He defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent and received 854,783 votes (41.6%). Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa came in third with 146,127 votes (7.1%).
Born in Uganda and raised in the United States since the age of seven, Mamdani celebrated his victory by declaring, “Hope is alive.” He said this win belongs to the people of New York who “believed in making the impossible possible.” Mamdani emphasized that politics would no longer be imposed on the people — instead, they would now take charge of it themselves.
In his victory speech, Mamdani quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, saying that New York would no longer be a place where Islamophobia could be used to win elections. “This city,” he said, “will stand as a light in this moment of political darkness.” Mamdani also sent a direct message to President Donald Trump, vowing to end the “culture of corruption” that allowed billionaires like Trump to avoid taxes and exploit loopholes.
In another major breakthrough for Democrats, Ghazala Hashmi won the election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold a statewide office in the United States. Hashmi received 747,773 votes (53.8%), defeating Republican John Reid, who got 659,421 votes (46.4%).
Born in Hyderabad, India, Hashmi’s victory is a milestone for both the South Asian and Muslim communities. She had earlier made history in 2019 as the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia State Senate.
Democrats also celebrated other significant victories. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger was elected as the state’s first female governor, while in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill won the gubernatorial race. These wins, coming after the party’s national defeat in the 2024 elections, are seen as a boost of confidence for the Democrats moving forward.
Former President Barack Obama congratulated the winners, saying these results show that “when we unite around strong, forward-thinking leaders who care about real issues, we can win — and the future looks a little brighter.”
Reacting to the defeats, President Donald Trump cited unnamed pollsters who blamed the Republican losses on the ongoing government shutdown and the fact that Trump was not on the ballot.
