Voters born in New York City backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday’s mayoral election, with the Democrat-turned-independent defeating the Democrats’ socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani by a margin of 49 percent to 38 percent. However, Mamdani, a Ugandan Muslim immigrant, secured victory through overwhelming support from residents who have lived in the city for under ten years, winning them by around 81 percent. The results highlighted a stark divide between long-time residents and newer arrivals, with mass immigration empowering radical candidates like Mamdani over local figures.
Mamdani, who became a U.S. citizen in 2018, also led among voters who have lived in New York for over a decade but were not born there, capturing 55 percent of their support compared to Cuomo’s 40 percent. During his victory speech, Mamdani celebrated the city’s immigrant communities, stating, “New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant.” His platform includes controversial policies such as defunding the police, abolishing prisons, and increasing taxes on “whiter neighborhoods,” positioning him as a polarizing figure in U.S. politics.
