Democratic socialist’s win reflected turnout surge among young, minority, and working-class voters despite limited citywide organizing
Newsday’s comprehensive voter profile analysis reveals that Zohran Mamdani’s November 2024 election victory depended overwhelmingly on concentrated support among younger voters, communities of color, and working-class households concentrated in outer-borough neighborhoods. Exit polling and turnout data show Mamdani won decisively in Astoria, Sunset Park, and Flushing but underperformed citywide compared to Democratic baselines in wealthier Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods. His margin of victory (approximately 52 percent to Andrew Cuomo’s 41 percent) represented less a broad citywide mandate than concentration of support within specific demographic groups.
Age, Race, and Economic Divisions
Voters under 40 supported Mamdani at rates exceeding 65 percent according to exit polling, while voters over 65 supported him at only 48 percent. Latino voters chose Mamdani 58 percent to 37 percent; Black voters 54 percent to 41 percent; Asian voters split 46-47 percent nearly evenly. Manhattan’s wealthier precincts from the Upper West Side through the Financial District supported Cuomo despite his major scandals. This geography reflects Mamdani’s positioning within democratic socialist movements rather than establishment Democratic politics.
Working Class Concentration and Union Support
Union households reported Mamdani support at 61 percent, reflecting backing from District Council 37 and Transport Workers Union Local 100. Households earning under 50,000 dollars annually favored Mamdani by 22 percentage points. This economic divide suggests his messaging around housing affordability and wage increases resonated more powerfully among economically vulnerable populations than among affluent voters prioritizing public safety and fiscal stability. For demographic analysis, see Newsday’s detailed voter profile, NBC New York’s exit polling, Politico’s coalition analysis, and New York Times demographic breakdown.
