Cuomo concedes in NYC Democratic primary for mayor, congratulates AOC-endorsed Mamdani

NEW YORK CITY - Enjoying a surge of patronage from progressive and younger voters democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is a big step closer to becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation's majority populous city While the Associated Press had yet to project a winner in New York City's Democratic Party mayoral primary Tuesday night former Gov Andrew Cuomo saw the writing on the wall telling supporters at an balloting night gathering that Mamdani won Mamdani a -year-old state assembly member from Queens who is originally from Uganda topped the former three-term governor and nine other candidates in a crowded primary field in an voting process that was determined by ranked-choice voting He will be considered the frontrunner in November's general vote in the nation's the bulk populous city which is heavily blue Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night and he put together a great campaign Cuomo announced Tuesday He touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote He really ran a highly impactful campaign I called him I congratulated him I applaud him sincerely for his effort TRUMP FRONT-AND-CENTER AS NATION'S BIGGEST CITY HOLDS MAYORAL PRIMARYCuomo added that Mamdanie ran a really smart and good and impactful campaign Tonight is his night He deserved it He won 'GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA' PHRASE STIRS TENSIONS ON NYC CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT RAGESAs the unofficial results of the first round of voting trickled in in which Mamdani was leading as of Tuesday night Cuomo communicated his supporters that his campaign would be having conversations about how to proceed to help both the Democratic Party and New York City moving forward Now I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and this ranked choice voting and what the numbers literally say and do Cuomo added A Cuomo campaign aide following the former governor's speech disclosed Cuomo was leaving the door open for a workable run as third party or independent candidate in November I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyze the rank choice voting I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November Cuomo disclosed in a report The presumptive Democratic nominee cross-endorsed with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander in a thriving attempt to consolidate sponsorship against Cuomo within the ranked-choice voting style Mamdani and Lander campaigned together in the weeks leading up to primary day Their combined totals would be enough to topple Cuomo as ranked-choice voting rounds get underway per the Board of Elections' unofficial tally Tuesday night According to The Associated Press ranked-choice tabulations won't start until July so it could be several time before the results are finalized Mamdani who among other things proposed to eliminate fares to ride New York City's vast bus system make CUNY City University of New York tuition-free freeze rents on municipal housing and free childcare for children up to age five was boosted in recent weeks after winning an endorsement from Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The backing of the progressive rock star and New York City's majority prominent leader on the left was followed a week later by an endorsement from Sen Bernie Sanders of Vermont the progressive champion and two-time Democratic presidential nominee runner-up With multiple candidates on the left running in the primary the endorsements by Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders helped to consolidate the encouragement of progressive voters behind Mamdani Once far down in masses opinion polls Mamdami surged the past couple of months to second place as he narrowed the gap with Cuomo Cuomo's campaign in the closing weeks of the primary criticized Mamdani as a dangerously inexperienced legislator while touting that the former governor managed a state and managed crises from COVID to Trump The mayor of the city of New York is the CEO of one of the largest corporations on the globe This is not a job for a novice Cuomo reported on the eve of the primary This is not a job for on-the-job training We need someone who knows what they re doing on day one because your lives depend on it Cuomo and his campaign also targeted Mamdani for his controversial and defiant stance against Israel which critics suggested touched on antisemitism We are against calls to globalize the intifada declaring open season on Jewish people We are against those who would glorify Hamas terrorists who are destined to kill Jewish people Cuomo mentioned on the eve of the primary as he took aim at Mamdani But the attacks apparently weren't enough to dissuade New York City voters Mamdani now advances to November's general ballot where he'll face Curtis Sliwa the founder of the volunteer crime-fighting patrols known as the Guardian Angels Sliwa for a second straight voting cycle is the Republican nominee for mayor Also on the ballot in November is incumbent Mayor Eric Adams a moderate Democrat elected in who is running for re-election as an independent Adams earlier this year dropped his Democratic primary bid as his approval ratings sank to historic lows Adams' poll numbers were sinking even before he was indicted last year on five counts which accused the mayor of bribery and fraud as part of an alleged long-running scheme to personally profit from contacts with foreign officers The mayor made repeated overtures to Trump and the Justice Department earlier this year dismissed the corruption charges so Adams could potentially work with the Trump administration on its illegal immigration crackdown