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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez insisted Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City was an omen to the 'Old Guard' of the Democratic Party, as former President Barack Obama gave a subdued response to the socialist swing. Mamdani, 34, will become the Big Apple's first Muslim mayor after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a race that became a massive flashpoint in national politics. The democratic socialist earned more than 50 percent of the vote with 97 percent of ballots counted. As progressive Democrats gathered to celebrate Mamdani's win Tuesday night, Ocasio-Cortez called the victory the beginning of a new movement within the party. AOC said Mamdani's campaign was 'not just tasked with defeating a Republican, they were tasked with defeating the Old Guard' of the Democratic Party. 'So he had a two-front war to win, which is what makes his victory so impressive,' the congresswoman explained. 'And I do think that this moment - a lot of people who are willing to talk about party unity when it serves everybody, it puts those folks on notice. 'And I think it also puts folks on notice that we have a future to plan for, we have a future to fight for and we're either going to do that together or you're going to be left behind.' Ocasio-Cortez went on to argue that this fight for a better future was 'not a partisan issue.' 'It's not about progressive, it's not about moderate, it's not liberal - this is about do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now?' she said. 'And the assignment is to come together across differences no matter what.' But those in the Democratic Party establishment seemed less enthusiastic about Mamdani's win. Former President Obama refused to mention Mamdani by name in his celebration message. 'Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight,' Obama said on social media. 'It's a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. 'We've still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter,' he said. In addition to Mamdani, Democrats Mikie Sherill and Abigail Spanberger won their elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, respectively. New York Democratic leaders also issued a restrained response, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer congratulating the self-described socialist without revealing whether he voted for him. 'I congratulate Mayor-elect Mamdani on his well-earned and historic victory tonight,' Schumer said in a statement. 'His campaign was relentlessly focused on the cost of living crisis that Donald Trump has only made worse and on finding ways to help working families, seniors and young people build a life of dignity and economic security in New York City.' He noted that he has 'worked collaboratively and productively with Mayor-elect Mamdani on a number of vital issues over the years - including delivering historic relief to our taxi drivers who were suffering under crushing and unfair debt - and I look forward to building on that partnership to keep New York City strong, fair, more affordable and thriving.' Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, also denied in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper that Mamdani represents the new Democrat Party - despite admitting that he voted for the candidate. He instead argued that the future of the Democratic Party lies in those who he insisted will win back the House in next year's midterm elections. Yet Mamdani seemed to side with Ocasio-Cortez as he took the stage in Brooklyn after Cuomo conceded late Tuesday, claiming he and his supporters 'toppled a political dynasty. 'I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few,' he said. Mamdani also called his election 'a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford and a mandate for a government that does exactly that.' 'Tonight, we have spoken clearly: hope is alive!' He added that 'in this moment of political darkness, New York will be a light' in a message to Donald Trump. Mamdani said he would fight for everyone, including 'the many black women whom Donald Trump fired from a federal job.' He even addressed the president directly telling him to 'turn the volume up,' as Trump took to his Truth Social page to share his thoughts. '...AND SO IT BEGINS!' the president wrote. Trump had branded Mamdani a 'communist' and threatened to cut off federal funding to the city if he were to be elected. He even endorsed his longtime rival Cuomo in a desperate attempt to prevent Mamdani from winning. In a poll conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail, nine percent of New Yorkers said if Mamdani wins they would 'definitely' leave the city, which currently has a population of 8.5 million. To make matters worse for the Big Apple, polling also found a further 25 percent, or 2.12 million, would 'consider' going. If anywhere near that number left New York it would crater the city's economy and send shockwaves across the rest of the country. When asked what shape they think the city would be in after four years of Mamdani, those not voting for him chose words including 'disaster,' 'hell,' 'chaos,' 'destroyed' and 's***hole.' Meanwhile, Mamdani voters said they believed it would be 'affordable,' 'improved, 'hopeful' and 'changed.' Crucially, the poll found 7 percent of those earning over $250,000 would definitely leave New York City under a 'Mayor Mamdani.' The top 1 percent of earners in New York pay around half the city's income taxes. With a significant proportion of them departing the city's finances would collapse and there would be less money to pay for Mamdani's policies, which involve subsidizing various parts of the city's economy.
