New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani challenges Donald Trump in victory speech as Democrats win key US election races

Zohran Mamdani is the mayor-elect of New York City with a decisive victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo.  With more than 97% of the votes counted, Mamdani received more votes – at least 1.03 million – than all the other candidates combined, including Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, theguardian.com reported.

It was a good night for Democrats, with Abigail Spanberger winning the Virginia governor’s race and Mikie Sherrill winning the governorship in New Jersey.

President Donald Trump took to his favoured platform, Truth Social, to distance himself from the losses.  He also urged Republicans to pass voter reform and terminate the filibuster. As Mamdani was speaking, Trump posted a cryptic final missive of the night: “AND SO IT BEGINS!”

Mamdani directly addressed Trump in his victory speech in Brooklyn, vowing to use his role in city hall to counter his politics of division.  The newly minted mayor said, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”

Mamdani supporters said they were “elated” and “hopeful” after the Democratic candidate was elected as the new mayor of New York City.  Mamdani’s socialist campaign promising to freeze rent and make buses free seduced New Yorkers who voted for him en masse, securing victory for him with more than 50% of the vote. He will be inaugurated as the 111th mayor of the city in January.

Left-wingers in UK politics have been cheered by the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York.  His London counterpart, Sadiq Khan, said New York had followed London in choosing hope over fear in electing Mamdani.