Mamdani’s campaign, grounded in Democratic Socialist values, gained momentum with younger voters. / X

Representative Pramila Jayapal celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s lead in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, calling it a victory of people power over billionaire spending.

“@ZohranKMamdani stood up to billionaires — and the people stood with him,” she posted, after the 33-year-old State Assemblyman and son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair pulled ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the high-profile race.

 

Something special is happening in New York. A people-powered movement has overcome massive Super PAC spending to put Zohran on track to be the Democratic nominee!@ZohranKMamdani stood up to billionaires — and the people stood with him!

— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) June 25, 2025

Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if elected, now faces incumbent Eric Adams in the November general election. Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, is running as an independent after skipping the Democratic primary.

Mamdani quoted Nelson Mandela’s words post early election results: “In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.”

The primary ended without either Democrat securing a majority, triggering a ranked-choice tabulation. But with a significant lead in first-choice ballots, Cuomo conceded June 24 night. “Tonight is his night,” he told supporters. “I called him, I congratulated him… he won.” Cuomo added, “We are going to take a look and make some decisions.”

Mamdani’s campaign, grounded in Democratic Socialist values, gained momentum with younger voters and Democrats. His platform includes freezing rents for stabilized tenants, expanding fare-free public transit, introducing no-cost childcare, and launching city-owned grocery stores.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who endorsed Mamdani on June 17, praised the campaign. “Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani and his thousands of grassroots supporters for their extraordinary campaign,” Sanders wrote on X. “You took on the political, economic and media Establishment — and you beat them.”

 

Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani and his thousands of grassroots supporters for their extraordinary campaign. You took on the political, economic and media Establishment- and you beat them. Now it’s on to victory in the general election.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 25, 2025

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who appeared at multiple rallies with Mamdani, also weighed in. “Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won,” she wrote. “Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city.”

 

Congratulations, @ZohranKMamdani!

Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city.

Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system.

And you won. https://t.co/YbJFsYjemm

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 25, 2025

Mamdani had formed a cross-endorsement pact with fellow progressive Brad Lander earlier this month in a strategic attempt to defeat Cuomo. Lander, a Jewish candidate, congratulated him on June 24: “Hope and solidarity won tonight, and will win again in November.”

Celebrations galore for the ‘Golden Boy’

Kashif Chaudhry, an Indian-origin doctor from North Carolina, framed Mamdani’s win as a stand against “a relentless smear campaign by militant Zionists.” He added, “New Yorkers rejected the antisemitic notion that opposing genocide is the same as hating Jews.”

Qasim Rashid, a human rights lawyer in Illinois, posted a humorous warning to South Asian men: “Every desi parent is gonna be like, ‘Zohran was Mayor of New York City at 33! You haven’t even bought a house yet!’”

Abdullah Hammoud, mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, wrote: “THE MAMDANI MANDATE! It was a MANDATE in a packed primary.”

Amani, the founder of Muslim Girl and former congressional candidate, said Mamdani “was the FIRST public official to reach out when the rest were silent less than a month into the genocide in Gaza… NYC NEEDS [him] right now.”

Mamdani, who represents Queens’ 36th Assembly District, launched his mayoral campaign in October 2024.

In multiple videos circulating online, celebrations were galore across New York City as Mamdani secured a lead in the race.

 

live from zohran watch party in nyc
i am. crying
good things are still possible pic.twitter.com/UQHOFacjGt

— matt (@mattxiv) June 25, 2025

We got the news at the Brooklyn @DemSocialists watch party! pic.twitter.com/NsPhEV3dZn

— Nomadic Activist | Nicole (@nomad_activist) June 25, 2025