SOCIALIST Zohran Mamdani caused a political earthquake today as he won the primary to be the Democratic Party’s candidate to be the next mayor of New York City.

Mr Mamdani declared victory in the primary after the former governor of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, was forced to concede victory.

Although the race’s ultimate outcome will still be decided by a ranked choice count, Mr Mamdani took a commanding position just hours after the polls closed.

Mr Mamdani, who centred his campaign on the city’s soaring cost of living, told supporters: “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City.

“I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all,” he said. “I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own.”

Mr Cuomo, who had been the frontrunner throughout a race that was his comeback bid from a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the election, telling a crowd that he had called Mr Mamdani to congratulate him.

“Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won,” Mr Cuomo told supporters.

Mr Mamdani, a member of the state Assembly since 2021, would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected in the November general election. 

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams skipped the primary and is running as an independent in the general election. Mr Cuomo has the same option.

“We are going to take a look and make some decisions,” Mr Cuomo said.

Mr Mamdani and Mr Cuomo were a study in political contrasts.

Mr Cuomo characterised the city as a threatening, out-of-control place desperate for an experienced leader who could restore order. Mr Mamdani, meanwhile, offered an optimistic message that life in the city could improve under his agenda to lower the cost of living.