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In his first post after a historic election victory, Zohran Mamdani welcomed New Yorkers to the “transition” and pledged to deliver on his promises, vowing to make New York “affordable for all.” Mamdani took to X to express gratitude. “Thank you, New York City. Together we made history. Now let’s get to work,” wrote the 32-year-old Democratic socialist, who will become the first Muslim, the first South Asian, and the youngest person in over a century to lead the United States’ largest city. Mamdani, who currently represents Queens in the New York State Assembly, secured a decisive victory against former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, winning over 50 per cent of the vote. His win marked a sweeping moment not only for New What Mamdani said? In a video message shared on X, Mamdani outlined his immediate priorities as Mayor-elect. He pledged to form a City Hall team “driven by excellence, integrity, and a hunger to solve old problems with new solutions.” Emphasising inclusivity, he said his administration would draw from “organisers on the front lines, government veterans, policy experts from around the world, and working people who know better than anyone what our neighbourhoods deserve.” He further promised that his leadership, like his campaign, would be “defined by transparency.” Mamdani stated that he would soon announce his deputy mayors and commissioners, signalling a clear intent to transition swiftly from campaign mode to governance. “On January 1st, I will be your Mayor, New Year’s Day and a new era for this city,” he declared. Mamdani in politics Mamdani’s triumph came amid a night of strong Democratic performances nationwide, including victories in two key gubernatorial races. His win, political observers say, offers the party fresh energy ahead of the 2026 midterms and poses a symbolic rebuke to Donald Trump’s brand of politics. Son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan-born scholar Mahmood Mamdani, the new mayor-elect campaigned on a platform focused on affordability and social equity. His proposals, free childcare, rent freezes, free bus transit, and government-run grocery stores, resonated strongly with working-class voters hit by the city’s cost-of-living crisis. Throughout the campaign, Mamdani faced sharp attacks from conservative commentators and business groups who questioned his socialist ideals and Muslim faith. Yet, his grassroots coalition, powered by young voters, labour unions, and community organisers, turned that criticism into momentum. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” Mamdani told jubilant supporters in his victory speech. “In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light.” While Democrats celebrated Mamdani’s historic ascent, Trump reacted angrily, calling him a “Jew hater” in a post on Truth Social. As Mamdani prepares to take office on 1 January, the city stands at the threshold of what he calls “a new era, one defined not by wealth and privilege, but by justice, equality, and hope.”
