Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani emerged as the frontrunners in New York City's mayoral primary. (AP/Reuters)
Mamdani's primary victory over Cuomo and nine other candidates three weeks ago rocked the Democratic Party, and boosted the Ugandan-born 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens toward becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation's most populous city.
MAMDANI OFFICIALLY WINS NYC DEM PRIMARY BY 12 POINTS OVER CUOMO, WHO'S STAYING IN THE RACE FOR NOW
Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living.
Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores.
And thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, he rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who was the frontrunner.
Zohran Mamdani speaks to supporters during an election night gathering on June 24, 2025, in the Queens borough in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
"I think he's struggling to come to terms with what Tuesday meant," Mamdani added. "We spent an entire campaign being told that it was inevitable for Andrew Cuomo to become the next mayor, and he believed that himself."
Mamdani also trolled the former governor on Monday, responding to a photo of Cuomo filming his campaign video.
"We got him making man on the street videos with a guy in Carhartt. By next week, he'll be sipping adeni chai and eating khaliat al nahl," Mamdani said in reference to his own viral campaign videos.
The announcement by Cuomo came as no major surprise.
While he acknowledged Mamdani's victory in the primary, Cuomo left the door open to a November run as an independent candidate, which election rules in New York state permit.
Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall, Dec. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
And late last month, Cuomo let pass a deadline for candidates who had already qualified to run as independents to decline that independent ballot line.
But sources told Fox News at the time that Cuomo had not committed yet to running an active general election campaign through the summer and into the autumn.
In deep blue New York City, the Democratic primary winner is largely favored to win the general election. If Mamdani wins in November, he will be the first Muslim and millennial mayor of New York City.
Also on the general election ballot is Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his primary bid earlier this year amid sinking poll numbers in the wake of numerous controversies.
Adams is running as an independent.
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Also on the ballot in the general election are Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor running as an independent, and Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who, for a second straight election, is the Republican mayoral nominee.
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cuomo-refuses-back-down-heated-nyc-mayoral-race-against-zohran-mamdani-in-win-it