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New Yorkers elected young progressive Zohran Mamdani as their new mayor on Tuesday, while Democrats won two important gubernatorial races, signalling an early warning for President Donald Trump as the midterm elections approach in 2026.
The clean sweep of top races across various ballots nationwide is expected to uplift the spirits of Democrats who have been battered by Trump’s return to the White House, while raising concerns among Republicans.
Mamdani’s win came despite intense criticism of his policies and Muslim background from business leaders, conservative media figures, and Trump himself.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” Mamdani said in a victory speech to supporters.
“In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light.”
The Democratic Party’s wins in the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey indicate a possible change in the political climate as the nation prepares for next year’s midterms, which will determine control of Congress.
In another significant victory for the Democrats, voters in California passed a measure aimed at redrawing electoral districts to counteract gerrymandering tactics initiated by Trump in other states.
Trump declined to accept responsibility for the outcomes of Tuesday’s elections. In a post on his Truth Social network, he referenced unnamed “pollsters” who claimed the Republican losses were due to the government shutdown and the absence of his name from the ballots.
Mamdani, a state legislator from Queens, resonated with voters by promising to address the rising cost of living, proposing free city bus rides, childcare, and city-managed grocery stores.
He centred his campaign on the financial challenges faced by everyday New Yorkers, gaining support through his approachable demeanour, social media savvy, and extensive canvassing.
The self-described socialist was largely unknown before his surprising victory in securing the Democratic nomination against former governor Andrew Cuomo, whom he decisively defeated again on Tuesday.
An atmosphere of celebration filled Mamdani’s event for supporters as they awaited the election results, held at a well-known Brooklyn concert venue.
In a last-minute move during the campaign, Trump labelled Mamdani, who will become New York’s first Muslim mayor when he takes office in January, a “Jew hater.”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, finished third after Cuomo repeatedly urged him to withdraw to improve his own chances.
Prominent business figures, including Bill Ackman, vocally criticised Mamdani and donated funds to his opponents, while conservative media outlets like The New York Post delivered extensive negative coverage.
Voter turnout was robust this year, with 1.45 million individuals casting their votes by 3 pm (2000 GMT) — surpassing the total number of voters in the 2021 election.
