Zohran Mamdani was officially declared the winner of the Democratic primary election for mayor on Tuesday, with much help from Brooklyn voters.
On June 24, 545,334 voters from New York City voted for the Socialist Democrat, or 56% of the total, according to the final tally of ranked-choice votes from the New York City Board of Elections. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo garnered 428,530 votes, or 44%.
Brooklyn played a big part in Mamdani’s win, where about 40% of the total votes for Mamdani came from borough residents.
Mamdani said he was humbled by the support.
"This is just the beginning of our expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together," he said on X.
Joanne Sloawinski, a Prospect Heights resident, said she was amazed to see someone so far left could win. The 74-year-old said she is a little skeptical whether he can fulfill all of his campaign promises. That said, she was also happy to see Cuomo lose.
“We’ll see how it goes,” she said. “If [Mamdani] is able to beat a Republican and if he does win, if he’s able to enact his agenda.”
Ziah Minor said Mamdani would usher in change for New York City.
“I feel like Zohran actually pays attention to the needs of each and every individual,” said Minor, who lives in East New York. “You can see it in the things that he wants to implement.”
Though a frequent voter, Minor still carries an ambivalent attitude towards the electoral process.
“You know when it comes to politics in general, I’m never really happy with anything,” Minor said, noting that a vote for Mamdani was more about hatred toward the current mayor Eric Adams and his background in law enforcement and disinterest in fighting for social justice and equity.
“It’s always gonna be a concern that Eric Adams gets back in his seat, because I think he’s a terrible mayor,” Minor added.
Tom Roughton, a resident of Bedford-Stuyvesant, said he was thrilled with Mamdani’s win.
“It felt like a repudiation,” the 39-year-old said. “It should be a wake-up call to the [Democratic National Committee] and the entire party at large.”
Fort Greene resident Robert Carmona said Mamdani got his vote because of his plans to make life in New York City more affordable.
Carmona, who works at Luna Park in Coney Island, said he trusts Mamdani will do what he has promised to do, including providing free bus service.
“He said he wants to make Halal food cheaper, I’m for that,” he said, referring to the candidate's desire to fix the vendor permitting process to drive down the cost of food cart dishes.
James Neimester, a Sunset Park resident who campaigned for Mamdani, was surprised by how decisive the results were the day after the primary election.
“When I finished my volunteer shift and went to meet people at the watch party, I was shocked to find that not only was Zohran ahead, but well ahead,” the 34-year old said, in reference to the election watch party he attended on primary night. “It was more than what I ever imagined.”
Annabel Sharahy, who lives on the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill, was optimistic about the results.
“I had a feeling it would work out, and when it did, I gained a little bit of hope,” the 29-year-old said. Even though she ranked Mamdani first on her ballot sheet, she was also shocked by the results. “It was so out of left-field.”
Alex Denton of Fort Greene, was ecstatic with the result, too. “I’m hyped,” he said. “Zohran’s great change and we’re all excited about it.”
