From 8% Support to Primary Victory: Mamdani’s Improbable Rise Reshapes NYC Politics
An Unlikely Political Rise
In November 2025, relatively unknown assemblyman Zohran Mamdani shocked New York’s political establishment by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a stunning primary victory. Mamdani’s path to victory was unexpectedin a February 2025 Quinnipiac poll, he had only 8% support, trailing behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 31% and Mayor Eric Adams with 11%. By June, however, a poll released just before primary day showed Mamdani surpassing Cuomo in ranked-choice voting calculations.
The Affordability Platform That Resonated
Mamdani’s campaign centered on addressing the city’s affordability crisisa message that resonated particularly with younger voters and working-class New Yorkers squeezed by soaring housing costs, childcare expenses, and transportation fares. His campaign promises included making city buses free for all riders, implementing a rent freeze on rent-stabilized units, establishing universal childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, and creating city-owned grocery stores to reduce food costs. He also proposed raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030 and funding these ambitious initiatives through higher taxes on corporations and individuals earning above $1 million annually.
Voter Engagement and Turnout Records
The election saw more than two million votes castthe first time since 1969 that voter participation reached this levelindicating deep engagement with issues of housing, inequality, and public services. Supporters cited the emotional significance of voting for a candidate who represented their identity, values, and vision for a more affordable city. Many first-time voters, particularly young people and immigrants, participated in the primary, energized by Mamdani’s message and his presence in communities across the five boroughs.
Assembly Roots and Progressive Organizing
Mamdani’s political journey began in 2020, when he won a Democratic primary and general election for state Assembly District 36, which includes Astoria and part of Long Island City in Queens. As an assemblyman, he spearheaded a pilot program to provide free bus service on one line in each borough and joined taxi drivers in a hunger strike aimed at relieving them of millions of dollars in debt. His work in the Assembly built a grassroots base of supporters who understood him as a legislator committed to tangible improvements in working people’s lives.
National Attention and Democratic Socialism
As a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani brought national attention to municipal governance, drawing support from progressive figures nationwide. Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy at New York University, noted that “the Mamdani inaugural on Jan. 1 is going to attract a global audience” because it represents not just a local political shift but a statement about American politics at a critical moment. The victory demonstrated that progressive candidates focused on material improvementsaffordable housing, free transportation, childcare supportcan win in major metropolitan areas even against well-funded, establishment-backed opponents.
