New York celebrates Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win: ‘This is a victory for the people’

Around 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Zohran Mamdani cast his vote at his polling site in Astoria, Queens, a neighborhood recognized as one of the most diverse not only in New York City, but in the entire United States. “We are about to make history in our city,” said the then-Democratic candidate for mayor of the most populous city in the United States. Less than 12 hours later, his prediction was confirmed: New York City erupted with joy after electing its first Muslim mayor and the youngest in recent memory for the Big Apple.

In the heart of Astoria, the neighborhood that Mamdani represented in the New York State Assembly from 2020 until his mayoral candidacy a year ago, and where he still lives, the euphoria was palpable around 9:00 p.m., when the polls closed. At an event organized in a beer garden by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the largest socialist group in the country and to which Mamdani belongs, more than 1,000 people had gathered to follow the results. About 100 were standing outside because the venue reached capacity even before the vote count began, and many sought refuge in other bars in the area.

When the young politician’s victory was confirmed, the entire bar rose to its feet, and the collective cheer lasted for more than a minute. Amid applause and tears, those present hugged and jumped for joy. In unison, they began to chant, “The name is Mamdani, M-A-M-D-A-N-I,” a song that went viral during the campaign about how to spell the next mayor’s last name, which so many, including President Donald Trump, have mispronounced in recent months.

“This is a victory for the people. This election isn’t just about Zohran winning. It’s about us going to the polls, making our voices heard, and standing up to the billionaires,” said 28-year-old Upasna Barath outside the bar. “This proves that we can, with our vote, through the democratic process, make our voices heard. And I think the billionaires are going to be scared after this,” she added.

Mari Celly Malave summed up the electoral victory in a simple phrase: “I feel inspired.” “I met Zohran at the Puerto Rican Day Parade last summer, and he’s a supportive, humble guy,” said the 42-year-old Puerto Rican, who has lived most of her life in Queens. “His campaign shows that all the migrants in this city, those of us who were born elsewhere and ended up here, are important,” she added, wrapped in a Puerto Rican flag and holding a Mamdani banner.

Glenn Cantave, a 32-year-old New Yorker, wandered around the bar, high-fiving people. Although he was “euphoric,” in his own words, he was also pragmatic: he knows this is just the beginning of what will be a long struggle between Mamdani and President Trump. “I’m excited about this moment, about having someone who isn’t backed by billionaires, who is based on values. If you look at what Trump is doing, sending federal and immigration agents to different cities across the country, it’s something he’s doing on his own terms. But I think Zohran is skilled enough to handle that situation,” he said.

Beyond Astoria, the celebration extends throughout New York City tonight. In addition to those organized by the DSA, countless parties are planned across the city’s five boroughs. And in the streets, at ten o’clock at night, car horns blared as people paraded through the streets celebrating the victory of the socialist democrat.

The festive atmosphere developed throughout the day. Voters and volunteers from Mamdani’s campaign, consulted by this newspaper, expressed confidence that their candidate would emerge victorious from the early hours.

Around noon, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Zach Elliott had already spent six hours handing out flyers and information about Mamdani’s proposals to the voters who were constantly arriving at the polling places in the area. “I’ve been here since 6 a.m.; people are enthusiastic, excited, and happy, so I feel pretty good,” said the 23-year-old volunteer, who was wearing a Mamdani hat and t-shirt and several campaign pins.

Elliott signed up as a volunteer just two weeks ago, after becoming worried that Mamdani might lose. He said those anxieties completely vanished on Tuesday when he saw the energy in the streets from early morning. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited about a candidate. I used to work on campaigns and in congressional offices, but after the 2022 election, I lost all enthusiasm for doing that,” he shared. This was the first municipal election in which he had voted in his hometown.

It’s a sentiment shared by Machi Davis. The Brooklynite, whose family has lived in the heart of this borough for over 100 years, said he “hasn’t been this enthusiastic about a candidate since Obama,” the former Democratic president with whom Mamdani is constantly compared because of their shared charisma and the movements they have created.

“Instead of voting for someone because they’re the lesser of two evils, it’s nice to have someone to vote for because you want them to win and you believe in their platform,” the 37-year-old New Yorker said. “Even if they don’t accomplish everything they want to, the spirit of what Mamdani is trying to do and the reason behind it are the right ones.”

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