The 6-word message of Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, in his first speech

Zohran Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York City after defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent following his loss in the Democratic primaries, as well as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who sought the office again.

Mamdani maintained a consistent lead in opinion polls throughout the campaign, so his victory was widely anticipated despite facing Cuomo – a candidate backed by former president Donald Trump. Trump had declared he would “a thousand times rather see a Democrat with a record of success” than “a communist with no experience and an absolute record of failure.”

According to data from Associated Press, cited by The New York Times, with 90% of the votes counted, Mamdani has 50.4% of the total, while Cuomo trails with 41.36% and Sliwa with 7.1%. Of the city’s five boroughs, Mamdani leads in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, while Cuomo holds Staten Island.

“We have toppled a political dynasty”

At a campaign event celebrating his victory, Zohran Mamdani addressed his supporters, telling them they had won “against all odds.” “The future is in our hands,” said the mayor-elect of New York City. “My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty… I wish Andrew Cuomo the best in his private life. But let tonight be the last time I ever utter his name.”

“New York, tonight you have given us a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford, and a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that,” he declared.

Mamdani also spoke directly to New York’s working class: “This city is your city, and this democracy belongs to you as well.” He then sent a message to former president Trump: “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it’s the city that gave him birth,” Mamdani said.

A progressive agenda for New York

In his campaign platform, Mamdani promised to make New York City “more affordable” and “easier to live in.”His central proposals focused on housing, transportation, family care, corporate and wealth taxes, and several measures supporting the LGBTIQ+ community.

Among his key initiatives: an immediate freeze on rent for all rent-stabilized tenants, construction of more affordable housing, and overall rent reduction; the permanent elimination of bus fares across the city; universal free childcare for all New Yorkers from six weeks to five years old; and a network of city-owned grocery stores designed to keep food prices low.

To fund these measures, Mamdani plans to raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers. His revenue plan includes increasing the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, which he estimates would generate around $5 billion, and introducing a 2% flat tax on individuals earning more than $1 million a year.

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