Socialist Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race

( Post Millennial )

The results are in and after a contentious mayoral race, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani will ascend to Gracie Mansion. Mamdani ran against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who later dropped out, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election.

Mamdani has made many, socialist promises, from raising the minimum wage to $30/hour, eliminate fares for city buses, create city-run grocery stores, establish free childcare, and freeze the rent even for private property. In the wake of the death of George Floyd in 2020, Mamdani said "Black + brown solidarity will overcome white supremacy." 

During the race, Mamdani accused Cuomo of not being qualified to be mayor because he hadn't attended a Muslim mosque. He also claimed that the real issues following the 9/11 terror attacks on New York were people like his aunt, who later turned out to be his father's cousin, who he said was afraid to wear her hijab on the subway due to fears of harassment.

Mamdani opposes capitalism, though he is now set to govern the financial capital of the world. He has vowed to tax the wealthy more than their already high tax rate in New York City. He has been mentored by far-left Islamic extremist Linda Sarsour who said she would hold him accountable to the activists who propelled him into office.

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won the Democratic Party primary in June after New Yorkers cast their ballots using the rank choice voting method. As the campaign went on and Mamdani's win seemed more and more inevitable as the charismatic 34-year-old rallied voters, pressure mounted on Cuomo and Sliwa, with many encouraging Sliwa to quit the race.

Cuomo, however, didn't address New York's conservative voters or offer them any reason to vote for him. Cuomo ended his term as governor in scandal after Attorney General Letitia James publicized sexual harassment claims against him. After Cuomo left office, James declined to prosecute him and his Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul took over.

Many New Yorkers have said that they would flee the city if Mamdani takes office. A poll found that 25 percent of those living in the city would consider leaving, which is around 2.12 million of the city's 8.5 million population.