NYC Mayor Election 2025 Live: Zohran Mamdani open to working with billionaires who tried to stop him

Zohran Mamdani said he is ready to engage with President Donald Trump on addressing the cost of living crisis.

"I continue to be interested in having a conversation with President Trump on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers," he said, adding that one area of collaboration could be "fulfilling his campaign promises on the cost of living."

US President Donald Trump said the US had “lost sovereignty” after New York elected leftist Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor.

Trump warned that New York City would become communist following Mamdani’s victory.

Speaking in Miami, Trump claimed the city would become a “refuge for those fleeing communism in New York.”

He framed the national political divide as a choice between “communism and common sense.”

Trump also contrasted the two paths ahead as an “economic nightmare” versus an “economic miracle.”

Mayor Eric Adams said mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani should consider keeping some members of his current administration.

Adams suggested that if Mamdani “is smart,” he will retain experienced officials such as the police commissioner and DOT commissioner.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he believes he is the future of the Democratic Party.

When asked if Zohran Mamdani represents the Democratic party’s future, Adams replied, “No, I think I am.”

Adams argued that “socialism doesn’t work” and that the Democratic Party will “eventually realize” the far left’s approach is ineffective.

Zohran Mamdani is reportedly open to talking with billionaires who opposed his mayoral campaign, including Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon.

Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital, congratulated Mamdani on X (formerly Twitter) after his election win, writing: “Now you have a big responsibility… If I can help NYC, just let me know what I can do.”

Mamdani said he appreciated Ackman’s message and is willing to work with anyone committed to improving New York City’s vitality.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, had previously criticized Mamdani, calling him “more a Marxist than a socialist.” (The New York Post)

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch is reportedly open to staying on under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Tisch wants assurances she can continue pursuing her crime-reduction agenda if she remains in the role.

She has not publicly commented on Mamdani’s announcement that he plans to retain her.

Tisch’s decision hinges on whether the mayor-elect will support her current law enforcement priorities. (Bloomberg)

Mayor Eric Adams said he plans to “have so much fun” as his time in City Hall comes to an end.

Adams said he’s looking forward to enjoying life, traveling, and spending time freely after years of long workdays.

He reflected on his 40 years of service to New York City, calling himself a “good and faithful servant.”

Adams noted that being mayor came with glamour but heavy restrictions, saying, “You can’t leave the city or you gonna get beat up.”

He said he felt it was “time for someone else to do this” after election results.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said he is open to retaining NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, noting he looks forward to discussions with her.

It remains unclear if Tisch is interested in continuing under the Mamdani administration.

FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker submitted his resignation Wednesday morning, effective December 19.

Following his win, Zohran Mamdani reiterated that he would retain Jessica Tisch as the New York police commissioner. “I’ve made my intention clear to retain Commissioner Tisch,” said Mamdani.

Zohran Mamdani said he has not yet heard from the White House or Donald Trump since his victory the previous night. Trump, who is a New York native, campaigned hard against Mamdani and even warned that his election would harm the city's finances and its future.

In US mayoral elections, Democrats achieved significant victories, including Zohran Mamdani's historic win in New York City. Mikie Sherrill became New Jersey's governor, as voter discontent with Trump fuelled Democratic success, according to international media. Read here.

Prominent Indians like Shashi Tharoor, Prashant Bhushan, and others have sent out congratulatory messages to Zohran Mamdani after his historic win in the New York City mayoral elections. Mamdani will be the first South Asian Muslim mayor of New York. Read here

Zohran Mamdani entered the mayoral race last year with next to no name recognition, little money and no institutional party support – which made his victory remarkable. A mayor is tasked with multiple responsibilities, including preparing NY's budget, more. Read here

American entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy issued a stern warning to the Republican Party following Democrats' sweeping victories in key races across the United States.

Ramaswamy described the results as a wake-up call, urging the party to refocus on economic issues and abandon identity politics.

"We got our defeat handed to us in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. Democrats swept all," Ramaswamy said in a video shared on X.

Crowds across the city chanted Mamdani's name on Tuesday as champagne and tears flowed for the democratic socialist from Queens turned New York mayor-elect.

"Mamdaniiiiii," one group exclaimed, substituting the 34-year-old's name for the customary "cheese" as they posed for a photo at a Brooklyn bar watch party.

US President Donald Trump posted a chilling message on his social media handle after Zohran Mamdani, an Indian-American, won the New York mayoral polls.

Without saying too much, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “…and so it begins!” Read more

In his comments, Mamdani also threw a challenge to Trump.

"So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: 'Turn the volume up,'" he said.

"Tonight you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics," Mamdani told his supporters in Brooklyn.

"We have toppled a political dynasty. I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life. But let tonight be the final time I speak his name," he said.

Newly elected New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has not only made history as the city’s first Muslim and South Asian-origin mayor but has also caught global attention for his distinctive sense of style — a look that fuses symbolism, sentiment, and cultural heritage.

Mamdani’s signature accessories — three silver rings and a red sutra thread — have become part of his public persona. Read more

Zohran Mamdani amplified his celebratory moment with the song ‘Dhoom Machale’ from the Bollywood film 'Dhoom' playing in the background, as he appeared on stage with his wife, Rama Duwaji, and mother, Mira Nair, sending Bollywood fans into a frenzy.

Zohran Mamdani, 34, celebrated a landmark victory in the fiercely contested 2025 New York City mayoral election, becoming the city’s youngest and first Muslim mayor. During his victory speech, he targeted Donald Trump, throwing a direct challenge at him.

He said, “Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you - turn the volume up.”

In his victory speech, Zohran Mamdani quotes Jawaharlal Nehru's tryst with destiny speech and said, “Standing before you, I’m reminded of Jawahar Lal Nehru’s words. A moment comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance. Tonight, New York has done just that.”

Zohran Mamdani said the NYC mayoral election results are a call for change. He also took a jibe at Donald Trump, saying he refuses to apologise “for being Muslim”.

In his speech after victory over Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral elections, Zohran Mamdani has vowed to end “culture of corruption” that he said has allowed “Trump-like billionaires” to evade taxes.

NYC Mayor Election Live: Zohran Mamdani made history by winning the closely contested New York City mayoral race, becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to lead America’s largest city. Mamdani won the NYC Mayoral election, getting 948,202 votes (50.6 per cent), with 83 per cent of the votes in.

Polls have closed in the New York City mayor’s race, a generational and ideological contest between a democratic socialist and former governor that will resonate across the nation.

Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary earlier this year, faces former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who may land a massive upset.

A record number of voters cast ballots Tuesday in the New York City mayor's race, a generational and ideological contest between a democratic socialist and former governor that will resonate across the nation.

Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary earlier this year, faces former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who is trying to land a massive upset.

According to the city's Board of Elections, nearly 1.75 million voters had cast ballots as of 6 p.m., marking the biggest turnout in a New York mayoral race in at least 30 years. Polls were scheduled to close at 9 p.m.

By Tuesday, 6 pm, 1,748,698 votes had been recorded, reported Bloomberg, citing the city’s Board of Elections. The current voter turnout is in contrast with a trend of declining voter participation.

The 2025 general elections have the highest number of voters since 1993.

New York's leftist mayoral candidate and political phenomenon Zohran Mamdani has a message to business leaders looking aghast at his promises of free buses and higher taxes: 'don't worry.'

In the race for mayor in the New York City, 56 percent of voters said the cost of living was the most important issue facing the city, NBC exit polls showed. Another 2 in 10 said crime was an important issue, while 10 percent said immigration.

A voter said, "I voted straight down the democratic line because I feel the democratic party is for the people. I was very careful in making my selection..."

Another voter said, "I voted for Zohran Mamdani for affordable housing."

Zohran Mamdani, NYC Democratic mayoral candidate, said he will not be intimidated by President Trump's threats to cut federal funding if elected.

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is competing with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as a third-party candidate, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. President Donald Trump endorsed Cuomo last night.

The closely watched New York City mayoral race is finally coming to an end. Poll sites are open from 6 AM to 9 PM (local time). Early voting runs from Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, November 2.

As of 3pm local time (20:00 GMT), more than 1.4 million people reportedly voted in total – a figure that includes the record-breaking 735,000 early votes, according to the NYC Board of Elections.

In a post on X, Elon Musk said, “Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is. VOTE CUOMO!”

Andrew Cuomo reacts to President Trump’s endorsement: “The president does not support me, the president opposes Zohran Mamdani.”

Across four closely watched contests — the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, the mayoral race in New York City and the redistricting-related Proposition 50 in California — majorities disapprove of Trump, with strong disapproval of his performance far outpacing strong approval, CNN reported.

Polls in New York City close this evening at 9 pm. Initial vote counts will begin coming in within minutes of polls closing.

Media outlets are expected to call the race only after 10 pm.

1.45 million voters have participated in the NYC mayoral election so far.

Latest figures reported as of 3 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT).

Source: Data released by the New York City Board of Elections.

NBC News interviewed Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Brooklyn about Donald Trump’s endorsement of Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor.

Mamdani said the endorsement confirms long-standing concerns about Cuomo’s campaign being funded by billionaire donors linked to Trump.

He argued that Cuomo’s acceptance of endorsements from Trump, Elon Musk, and Stephen Miller shows alignment with “the architects of the crisis New Yorkers are struggling to survive.”

Mamdani said Cuomo cannot stand up to Trump, claiming he’d be “too busy cashing checks for his donors and picking up the phone for the president.”

Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani suggested that bomb threats at New Jersey polling stations were linked to the kind of voter intimidation tactics encouraged by Donald Trump.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Mamdani’s comments, calling them “completely irresponsible” and “based on zero evidence.”

Multiple polling locations in New Jersey received bomb threats on Election Day, prompting temporary closures and relocations.

Mamdani called the incidents “an illustration of the attacks we’re seeing on our democracy.”

Mamdani said the threats were part of a broader pattern of intimidation rooted in Trump’s “baseless allegations of voter fraud.”

1.19 million ballots cast by Tuesday afternoon in New York City’s mayoral election.

The 2025 turnout has already surpassed the total votes from the 2021 mayoral election.

Final turnout expected to climb further as polls remain open through the evening.

New York City voters will not only choose their next mayor on November 4 but also decide on six ballot proposals that could reshape city governance, housing policy, and elections.

The measures include expanding the Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County, fast-tracking affordable housing projects, simplifying land-use reviews, creating an Affordable Housing Appeals Board, developing a digital city map, and moving local elections to coincide with presidential years.

Read more here

Eric Trump, the President Donald Trump’s second-eldest son, wrote a post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding Election Day bomb threats in New Jersey.

He suggested without evidence that the threats were a Democratic ploy to suppress Republican voter turnout.

Several polling sites across New Jersey reportedly received bomb threats on Election Day, leading to temporary disruptions.

Eric Trump wrote: “I hope everybody starts to understand the games that they play… no different than bomb threats called into NJ voting locations on Election Day — a day which vastly favors Republican turnout.”

The New York Times reported on Andrew Cuomo’s reaction to Donald Trump’s last-minute endorsement.

Cuomo downplayed the endorsement, suggesting it was not genuine support.

“The president does not support me. He opposes Zohran,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo casts his ballot in Manhattan

Zohran Mamdani was asked by the WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer which of his policy proposals he wanted late-deciding voters to think about as they headed to the polls. “Universal childcare,” Mamdani said. “Today it costs a family, on average, $22,500 a year to pay for childcare for one child. That is more money than it would cost to send that child 18 years later to CUNY,” the city university system.

He added that in one recent year, the state lost $23 billion in economic activity “from families who had to skip shifts to take care of kids or left the state altogether because of how expensive it is to raise that family.”

That statistic matches data in a 2023 report from the city’s Economic Development Corporation, but the context was specific to the disruption caused by the pandemic.

When asked by a reporter today about Donald Trump’s comments on Truth Social that he plans to limit federal funds to New York City if Zohran Mamdani wins, the Democratic nominee said that he will “will treat his threats as they deserve to be treated, which are the words of a president and not necessarily the law of the land”.

The progressive favorite to win also said that is time the city deserves a mayor “who stands up for New Yorkers each and every day, not one who’s willing to sacrifice those New Yorkers so that they can stand up for themselves”.

“I will not be intimidated by this president. I will not be intimidated by anyone, because my job here is to serve the people of the city,” he added.

When Andrew Cuomo was asked on WNYC radio what policy proposal he wanted late deciders to think about as they entered the voting booth, he said “public safety.”

“Hire 5,000 police officers, get back to full force — Commissioner Tisch supports that — put 1,500 people in the subways,” Cuomo said. “Let New Yorkers know they are safe. Bring crime down. Not just some categories, but all of it.”

In the past, Zohran Mamdaniaccused the Police Department of being racist and a threat to public safety, but he has moderated his stance and said he would keep Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected. He has also called for keeping the police headcount at its current budgeted level.

Andrew Cuomo has arrived at his polling places on East 56th Street. “Who are you voting for?” a fellow voter called out as Cuomo filled out his ballot. “I’m still deciding,” Cuomo joked.

“I’m feeling very good,” Cuomo said later. “I feel that the momentum is on our side.” He said he thought high turnout would work in his favor and called the vote “the most important election of my lifetime,” suggesting that it would decide the future of the city and the Democratic Party.