New Yorkers appeared poised to make history on Tuesday by electing Zohran Mamdani — a 34-year-old Muslim socialist — as the city’s next mayor, marking a dramatic political shift as voters across the United States delivered their first verdict on Donald Trump’s turbulent second term.
While Mamdani’s stunning rise has dominated headlines, key gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey are also being closely watched as early indicators of the nation’s political mood nearly a year into Trump’s return to the White House. Democratic victories there could signal a resurgent opposition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
Mamdani, virtually unknown until his surprise win in the Democratic primary, has captured attention with his promise to tackle New York’s soaring cost of living and his approachable style — often sharing videos of himself speaking with residents on the streets.
President Trump has attacked the candidate directly, calling him a “Jew hater” in a social media post on Tuesday and urging Jewish voters not to support him. Mamdani, who would become New York’s first Muslim mayor, has dismissed Trump’s remarks as hate-fueled political distraction.
Polling showed Mamdani leading with 44% support, a few points ahead of former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailed at 24%, though analysts said his supporters could still influence the outcome if they shift toward Cuomo.
By midday, voter turnout had already surpassed that of 2021 — when outgoing Mayor Eric Adams won office before stepping down amid corruption allegations. Adams has since endorsed Cuomo, 67.
Voters cited the economy, crime, and city unity as top concerns. “I want to see less division and more support for working-class families,” said Denise Gibbs, a Brooklyn physiotherapist who cast her vote in green scrubs.
Experts say a Mamdani victory could ignite a political clash between the progressive mayor and the Trump administration. “Trump will treat New York City more aggressively,” said Syracuse University political scientist Grant Reeher. “There will be some kind of political showdown.”
The race has also exposed deep rifts within the Democratic Party over its direction. “The party needs to reflect the people,” Mamdani said recently, while Cuomo warned of “a civil war in the Democratic Party,” arguing that moderates are being pushed aside by “extreme radicals.”
Elsewhere, Democratic candidates Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia are locked in tight races with Trump-backed Republicans. Former president Barack Obama campaigned for both Democrats over the weekend but stopped short of endorsing Mamdani, highlighting divisions within the party.
Meanwhile, several polling stations in New Jersey were temporarily closed after emailed bomb threats, according to state officials. Mamdani called the threats “an attack on democracy,” urging calm and participation.
If confirmed by final results, Mamdani’s win would make him the first Muslim mayor in New York’s history — and one of the most prominent left-wing figures to lead America’s largest city.
