Zohran Mamdani has been declared the official winner of the New York City Democratic primary race and is now on a crash course with embattled Mayor Eric Adams in the fall election.
Mr. Mamdani, an avowed democratic socialist, shocked the political establishment last week when he emerged with a commanding lead over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the party’s ranked-choice primary.
The race was called for Mr. Mamdani on Tuesday after the latest vote tally showed him with a 56% to 44% lead over Mr. Cuomo, who is haunted by a sexual-harassment scandal that forced him out of the governor’s mansion.
The New York City Board of Elections is expected to certify the results in mid-July.
“I am humbled by the support of more than 545,000 New Yorkers in last week’s primary,” Mr. Mamdani said. “This is just the beginning of our expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together.”
Mr. Mamdani, who is Muslim, is now poised to face off against Mr. Adams. Mr. Adams was elected as a Democrat but is now running as an independent.
Mr. Cuomo is also staying in the race as an independent.
Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, and independent Jim Walden, a lawyer, help round out the Nov. 4 ballot.
Mr. Mamdani’s victory has turned the 33-year-old democratic socialist and Ugandan native into a polarizing national sensation.
Liberal Democrats celebrated his pursuit of free childcare and bus services, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and tax hikes on corporations and the wealthiest New York City residents to fund his vision.
Supporters say his far-left message energized voters and showed that national Democrats could benefit from focusing on making life more affordable for everyday voters and leaning into Big Government solutions.
At the same time, Republicans cast the Mamdani victory as more evidence that the Democratic Party has lost its mind. They have eagerly scrutinized Mr. Mamdani’s rhetoric and policies and painted him as an antisemite.
The GOP is confident Mr. Mamdani is too extreme for most Americans and that they can make him a poster child for a Democratic Party still struggling to find its footing after a disastrous 2024 election.
President Trump is also keeping tabs on him.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump, in response to a reporter’s question, warned that if Mr. Mamdani wins and were to follow through on his promise of thwarting illegal immigration enforcement operations, he would be arrested.
“Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I am going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation,” Mr. Trump said. “I’ve heard he’s a total nut job.”
Mr. Adams is also betting that the vast majority of Big Apple voters sour on Mr. Mamdani between now and election day.
Mr. Adams has his own baggage.
Last year, he was indicted on federal corruption charges stemming from alleged bribes and illegal campaign donations.
But caught a break when the Trump Department of Justice decided against pursuing the charges.
Mr. Adams’s path to victory entails putting that controversy behind him and putting together a coalition of moderate Democrats, independents and Republicans.
He has touted his record on public safety, housing and jobs. He also has embraced legislative efforts to eliminate the income tax for “low-income New Yorkers.”
In his campaign kickoff speech, Mr. Adams framed the election as a choice between “real progress and empty promises, and a future for working people, not a fantasy state.”
“This is not a city where you use idealism to state you are giving everything to everyone for free,” Mr. Adams said. “There is dignity in someone giving you everything for free.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.