Zohran Mamdani Leads NYC’s Democratic Mayoral Primary As Cuomo Concedes

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 4: Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. Nine candidates are taking the stage for the first debate of the primary election for mayor. (Photo by Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani has built a significant lead against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the rest of the candidates in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. Cuomo conceded the contest on Tuesday less than two hours after the polls closed. The the race’s ultimate outcome will be decided by a ranked choice count after neither Democrat got a clear majority in the vote. Mamdani is a 33-year-old democratic socialist member of the state Assembly. He started to pull ahead with more than an estimated 80% of ballots counted. Cuomo said Mamdani “won” and that “we are going to take a look and make some decisions.”