New York's Unlikeliest Mayor

"Zohran Mamdani will be the unlikeliest mayor in New York City history. A 34-year-old backbench state assemblyman and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, Mamdani ran on the promise of affordability and was declared the winner not long after polls closed tonight. On his path to victory, he thrilled young voters in a way that few Democrats have in years. But perhaps no one was more delighted by his election than President Donald Trump."

"Mamdani's victory was his second decisive win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, whom he defeated in the Democratic primary in June. Cuomo's father, Mario, another former governor, famously said, "You campaign in poetry; you govern in prose," and Mamdani will soon have to trade his lofty rhetoric for the gritty municipal work of ensuring public safety, digging out from snowstorms, and grappling with ever-widening income inequality."

"Trump can no longer vote in the city that he called home for more than seven decades, but he got involved in the race anyway. He erroneously declared Mamdani a Communist and gave the younger Cuomo an eleventh-hour endorsement that the candidate, running as an independent, didn't really want. But Trump will offer more than antagonistic rhetoric; he's promising dramatic action, too."

Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race as a 34-year-old backbench state assemblyman and self-proclaimed democratic socialist who campaigned on affordability. He defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and prevailed again in the general election after Eric Adams withdrew. Mamdani energized young voters in unprecedented ways for contemporary Democrats. He must transition from lofty rhetoric to municipal governance tasks including public safety, snow removal, and addressing widening income inequality. President Donald Trump intervened in the race, labeled Mamdani a Communist, gave an unwanted late endorsement to Andrew Cuomo, and warned he would cut federal funding to New York City.

Read at The Atlantic