'Led by an immigrant': New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani calls out Trump in victory speech
"The future is in our hands, my friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said to a roaring crowd in Brooklyn.
The mayoral race that skyrocketed to national attention came to a stunning conclusion on Tuesday; 34-year-old democratic socialist Mamdani is projected to be the next mayor of New York City, according to ABC News' analysis of the vote.
Mamdani's victory will make him the city's first Muslim and South Asian mayor. His identity became a topic of scrutiny throughout the course of the campaign, with Mamdani accusing Independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as Vice President JD Vance, of engaging in Islamophobic attacks.
Trump has called Mamdani a "communist lunatic" and, before the election Tuesday, threatened to withhold federal funding to New York City if Mamdani were to win.
Addressing President Donald Trump by name in his victory speech Tuesday night, Mamdani said, "Donald Trump, since I know you're watching -- I have four words for you: Turn the volume up."
"New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants -- and as of tonight, led by an immigrant," Mamdani said.
"So hear me, President Trump, when I say this, to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us. When we enter City Hall in 58 days, expectations will be high. We will meet them," he added.
What began as a state assemblymember's grassroots campaign quickly turned into back-to-back historic victories, as Mamdani beat out Cuomo, who ran as an Independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary.
Mamdani also bested Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in the election on Tuesday.
Speaking to his supporters on Tuesday night, Mamdani said, "New York tonight, you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford and the mandate for a government that delivers exactly that."
"Hope is alive," Mamdani continued.
"Hope over tyranny; hope over big money and small ideas; hope over despair. We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible," he added.
Polls closed at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday in the election that amassed a historic voter turnout for the city, with over 2 million residents casting their vote. Five times as many people voted early in 2025 compared to the 2021 mayoral race, according to the New York City Board of Elections.
Following the announcement of Mamdani's projected victory, Cuomo conceded the race.
He commended New Yorkers for showing up to vote in a municipal election in record numbers and drew a comparison between himself and his father, Mario Cuomo, which he has done often throughout his campaign.
"Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani," Cuomo said, before being interrupted by loud booing from the audience. "No, no, that is not right," Cuomo interrupted his supporters.
"That is not right, and that is not us. Tonight is their night, and as they start to transition, we will all help in any way we can, because we need our New York City government to work. We want it to work for all New Yorkers," Cuomo said.
Sliwa also offered an emotional concession speech to supporters Tuesday night, stressing that the movement that he built on creating a safer New York will not be erased.
He also said his candidacy was proof that voters cannot be bought or bullied by the establishment, as he was pressured to drop out of the race to clear the field for independent Andrew Cuomo.
Sliwa offered Mamdani, whom he referred to as "mayor-elect," good luck, while issuing a warning that if Mamdani implements socialist policies, Sliwa and his coalition will become the Mamdani administration's "worst nightmare."
With a focus on affordability, Mamdani has pushed plans to freeze the rent for rent-stabilized apartments and provide universal childcare and free buses. He has called for a 2% tax hike on New York City residents earning more than $1 million a year to pay for these services.
