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Zohran Mamdani has done it again. Less than a year after stunning the political establishment with his primary victory, the democratic socialist from Queens has now been elected Mayor of New York City, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 general election.

With over 60% of votes counted, networks projected Mamdani as the winner late Tuesday night. He captured 49.6% of the citywide vote to Cuomo’s 41.6%, with Republican Curtis Sliwa a distant third at 7.9%. The result cements Mamdani’s status as the face of a new progressive wave reshaping urban politics across the United States.

From Long Shot to City Hall

When Mamdani first entered the race in early 2024, few imagined he could overcome the city’s powerful establishment machinery. Betting markets listed him at +1400, behind a field of better-known candidates. But a grassroots movement — built on small-dollar donations, volunteer energy, and an unapologetically left-wing platform — turned the Assemblymember from Astoria into the city’s most unlikely powerhouse.

His upset victory in the Democratic primary over Cuomo, who had attempted a political comeback after years out of office, set the stage for a dramatic general election rematch. Mamdani’s campaign kept the focus on material issues: rent freezes, affordable housing, public transit, and climate resilience.

A New Coalition Emerges

The final vote map tells the story. Mamdani dominated in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, powered by young voters, working-class tenants, and new immigrants. Cuomo held much of Manhattan but failed to expand his base beyond wealthier, establishment enclaves.

In many ways, the race became a referendum on the soul of New York politics — between an entrenched political dynasty and an insurgent movement promising structural change. Mamdani’s victory proves that the energy of the city’s renters, students, and service workers can overcome the traditional levers of money and media.

Betting Markets Caught Off Guard

As with the primary, prediction markets once again underestimated Mamdani. Kalshi traders had the race nearly even in the final week, but by Election Day, late money poured in on Cuomo amid speculation of a comeback. Those bets quickly soured as early returns from outer-borough precincts pushed Mamdani ahead, and he never trailed again.

For early backers, Mamdani’s rise from long-shot to mayor has been one of the most lucrative political wagers in recent memory — and one of the most dramatic realignments in New York’s modern history.

A New Era for New York

Mamdani’s election signals more than a personnel change — it’s a philosophical shift. His platform prioritizes housing justice, public ownership, and climate adaptation over corporate partnerships and austerity. In a city long governed by business interests, Mamdani’s win represents a mandate for working-class governance.

The Assemblymember-turned-Mayor-elect now faces the challenge of translating movement politics into executive power. But one thing is certain: the era of complacent, top-down politics in New York City has ended.

Zohran Mamdani — once a long shot, now the 111th Mayor of New York City — has rewritten the odds once again.