Zohran Mamdani, 34, emerges as the new mayor of New York, according to projections from NBC News and CNN, after one of the most spectacular and unpredictable electoral contests in recent years. The Democratic politician, who presents himself as “Trump’s worst nightmare,” gathered 60.2% of the vote, marking a major victory for the leftists wing of the Democratic Party.

Mamdani’s win signals the rise of a new wave of progressive politicians in the United States, at a time when the Democrats appear deeply divided over how to confront Donald Trump in his second term.

Mamdani, the son of immigrants from South Asia, is considered one of the most committed champions of the working class and has advocated for radical measures such as free bus transportation, universal childcare and a freeze on rent-regulated housing rents, funded by increased taxation on the wealthy.

His electoral victory comes after a fiercely polarized campaign. Incumbent mayor Eric Adams decided to run as an independent following the corruption scandal that hit his administration, while former New York governor Andrew Cuomo tried to make a political comeback by seeking the Democratic nomination. However, Mamdani, a relatively unknown politician, managed to unexpectedly win the nomination, defeating Cuomo again in the general election.

Donald Trump had intervened on the eve of the election, calling Mamdani a “communist” and warning that he would bring “disaster” to New York, urging supporters of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to back Cuomo in order to prevent the victory of the Democratic socialist. Despite his appeals, Mamdani prevailed by a wide margin.

His election is a historic milestone: In the city that suffered the Islamic terrorist attacks of September 11, he will be the first Muslim mayor of New York, the first South Asian to hold the office and one of the youngest mayors in the city’s history. His political rise has been meteoric — from New York State Assembly member for three terms, he found himself at the center of the national political stage in just one year.

Analysts estimate that his victory will have an impact far beyond New York, giving new momentum to the progressive camp of the Democrats and influencing the party’s strategy ahead of the next presidential elections.

In New Jersey, Democrats also win the second governorship

Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected governor in the state of New Jersey on Tuesday, according to statistical projections by Fox News and NBC News, while earlier Democrat Abigail Spanberger is estimated to have prevailed in Virginia — two electoral contests considered a test for the first stage of Republican president Donald Trump’s second term.

In New Jersey the governor was already a Democrat for eight years: Phil Murphy. As in the case of Virginia, Trump has never won presidential elections in that state. However, the tycoon significantly narrowed the gap there in 2024, mainly in the Hispanic portion of the electorate.