Mamdani expected to formally win NYC Democratic primary with release of vote count

The winner of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, between progressive Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is likely to be finalized today when the city’s board of elections announces the next round of results.

Mamdani already declared victory on election night last week after gaining a commanding lead over Cuomo, who swiftly conceded. But more results are needed to establish the victor due to the city’s ranked choice voting model, which allows voters’ second, third, fourth and even fifth preferences to be counted if their top candidate falls out of the running.

The board is scheduled to run through its first tabulation at noon, which may be enough for Mamdani to clear the 50% threshold needed. If so, he would move on to the November election to face a field including incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and potentially Cuomo again, if the former governor decides to run on an independent ballot line.

Mamdani’s defenders have said that too much emphasis has been put on his background as an advocate for Palestinians, a supporter of the boycott Israel movement, and a critic of Israel, saying his job will be to run New York, not foreign policy.