By Ese Oghenegueke
Zohran Mamdani, 34, has won the New York City mayoral election and will become the first Muslim mayor of the biggest city in the US
The self-described democratic socialist was relatively unknown just months ago, and surged to victory with promises to tax millionaires to pay for expanded social programmes
Trump has threatened to cut NYC’s federal funding if Mamdani won over independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa
Meanwhile, Democrats are projected to win the governor races in Virginia and New Jersey
In a further blow to President Donald Trump’s polical base, Californians has voted to redraw the state’s congressional districts to favour the Democratic Party ahead of elections next year
Trump was not on the ballot on Tuesday, but he cast a shadow over all these contests.
*New Yorkers have delivered a ‘mandate for change’ — Mamdani
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” he tells the crowd.
He tells his opponent Andrew Cuomo: “I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life”.
“But let tonight be the final time that I utter his name,” he adds.
Mamdani goes on to talk about his platform, saying voters have delivered a “mandate for change” and a “mandate for a city we can afford”.
Mamdani begins to highlight the diverse New York voting groups who helped power his campaign, including “Yemeni bodega owners” and “Senagelese taxi drivers”, Uzbek nurses and Ethopian “aunties”.
Credit: BBC
