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New Yorkers elected Zohran Mamdani, a left-wing Democrat and frequent target of Donald Trump's fury, to be the city's next Mayor. The result is likely to infuriate the US President, who has branded Mamdani a "communist". Trump had repeatedly threatened to cut off funding to America's biggest city if Mamdani was elected. Mamdani, who will be the city's first Muslim mayor, was up against former Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo - standing as an independent after Mamdani defeated him in the Democrat primary election. Despite a Repubican, Curtis Sliwa, standing in the race, Trump had urged Republicans to back Cuomo to stop a Mamdani victory. Zohran Mamdani, 34 - the youngest New York mayor in more than a century - harnessed enthusiasm, optimism and social media savvy to become a rising star in the contest. Cuomo, on the other hand, struggled to get ahead of his past. He was ousted as Governor in the wake of #MeToo, after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. With 60% of results in, Mamdani had received just under half of the votes - leading Cuomo by around eight percentage points. New York City voters turned out in record numbers - with more than 2m people casting ballots in the race. Many were worried about the cost of living and housing - issues Mamdani focused heavily on in his campaign. Most voters in New York City were stressed about the cost of living — and in particular, the cost of housing, according to a poll by the Associated Press. About 6 in 10 New York City voters said the cost of living was the most important issue facing their city. About one-quarter said crime was the main problem, and about 1 in 10 said this about immigration. Less than 1 in 10 pointed to health care or transportation. About 7 in 10 voters said the cost of housing where they live was “a major problem,” with renters being especially likely to point to this as an issue. Fewer voters called crime “a major problem” in the city. Despite his popular support, Mamdani has struggled to get the Democrat party establishment to row in behind him. But he slowly picked up endorsements from the state’s Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul. And this week it was revealed Barack Obama had called Mamdani and offered his support, and to be a "sounding board". Across the state line in New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected Governor in another upset for Trump's party. Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by Trump. The race was closely watched as a potential bellwether for next year's midterm elections. She will succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, marking the first time since 1961 that one party has won three consecutive terms in the New Jersey governor’s mansion. Sherrill, a Navy veteran who represented a northern New Jersey district in the U.S. House for four terms, will be the state’s second female governor. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Tuesday’s election results “a repudiation of the Trump agenda.” “This was a good night for Democrats and for our fight to lower costs, improve health care and build a better future for American families,” Schumer said in a statement as Democrats won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. Attention will now turn to how Democrats will move forward on the ongoing government shutdown after Tuesday’s wins. “If Republicans want to keep blindly following Donald Trump into the abyss of chaos, let them,” Schumer said. “The rest of America is moving forward.”
