New York City politics is basically a blood sport, and the 2025 cycle was a chaotic fever dream. If you've been checking your ballot or scrolling through the news lately, you've probably noticed that the usual names are gone. The dust has finally settled on the most explosive mayoral election in a generation.
Zohran Mamdani is the new Mayor of New York City.
He didn't just win; he upended the entire establishment. On January 1, 2026, he took the oath as the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. At 33, he’s also the youngest person to lead the city since the 19th century. But getting here was a total mess. To understand who's running for NYC mayor—and who actually won—you have to look at the wreckage of the campaigns that came before.
The Field That Was: Who's Running for NYC Mayor?
For a while, it felt like everyone with a City Hall ID was jumping into the race. The incumbent, Eric Adams, was the story for most of the year. His legal drama was unavoidable. Federal charges, bribery allegations, the whole nine yards. Even though the Department of Justice eventually dropped those charges in early 2025, the political damage was done.
Adams initially tried to pivot. He left the Democratic primary and attempted to run as an independent on the "Safe & Affordable" line. It didn't work. His polling numbers cratered to somewhere around 26%. By late September 2025, he finally called it quits, though his name stayed on the ballot because he missed the deadline to get it removed. He ended up with a measly 0.3% of the final vote.
The Democratic Primary Shock
The real battle happened in June 2025. It was supposed to be Andrew Cuomo’s big comeback. The former Governor was leading in almost every poll. People thought his name recognition and massive war chest would steamroll the field.
But then there was Mamdani.
He ran a campaign that felt more like a grassroots movement than a political operation. While the "big" candidates like Brad Lander and Scott Stringer were fighting for the same group of institutional voters, Mamdani mobilized a literal army of 50,000 volunteers. He promised things that sounded wild to the old guard: free buses, a $30 minimum wage, and city-owned grocery stores.
In the final round of Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV), Mamdani stunned the city by defeating Cuomo 56% to 44%.
The General Election: A Three-Way Street
Even after losing the primary, Cuomo didn't go home. He launched an independent bid under the "Fight and Deliver" party. He figured that if he could peel off moderate Democrats and Republicans who were scared of Mamdani’s democratic socialist policies, he’d have a path to Gracie Mansion.
The November 4, 2025, general election ended up being a three-way showdown between:
- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat/WFP): The progressive insurgent.
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent): The centrist heavyweight.
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican): The Guardian Angels founder with the red beret.
Honestly, it wasn't as close as the pundits predicted. Mamdani cleared the 50% mark with over 1.1 million votes. Cuomo put up a fight, snagging about 41%, but he couldn't overcome the massive surge in young voter turnout. Sliwa, meanwhile, held onto his base of around 7%, sticking to his usual platform of animal welfare and "tough on crime" rhetoric.
What Happened to the Other Challengers?
A lot of names you might recognize from the 2021 race or the City Council didn't make it to the finish line.
Brad Lander, the City Comptroller, was a major player early on. He actually had the backing of The New York Times editorial board. But after finishing third in the primary, he made a strategic move: he endorsed Mamdani. That cross-endorsement was huge. It basically signaled to the progressive wing of the party that it was time to unite. Now, Lander is already looking at his next move—he’s currently running for Congress in the 10th District against Dan Goldman for the 2026 cycle.
Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, both State Senators, brought serious energy to the debates. Ramos focused heavily on labor and childcare, while Myrie pushed for housing reform. Neither could get the traction needed to break out of the single digits, but they’ve cemented themselves as the new power brokers in Albany.
Scott Stringer tried for a "seasoned veteran" angle. He talked a lot about his "Robin Hood" housing plan and hiring 3,000 more cops. But voters seemed to want something entirely new, and his campaign never quite caught fire like it did in years past.
The Outsiders and the Also-Rans
There were a few people running for NYC mayor that most folks didn't even notice until they saw the ballot. Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor, ran as an independent with a "zero tolerance for corruption" message. He was the one who famously said, "We don't want to be Cuba," referring to Mamdani's platform. He eventually dropped out in September to try and help Cuomo beat Mamdani, but his name stayed on the ballot anyway.
Then there was the "Quality of Life" candidate Joseph Hernandez and the Conservative Party's Irene Estrada. They were never going to win, but they represented that segment of New Yorkers who are just plain fed up with the two-party system.
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Why the 2025 Election Was Different
Turnout was the highest it’s been since 1993. That’s the big takeaway. For decades, NYC mayoral races were decided by a small group of reliable voters. This time, the youth vote actually showed up. They didn't care about the traditional endorsements; they cared about rent being too high and the subway being a mess.
Mamdani’s win wasn't just a "leftist" fluke. It was a total rejection of the Eric Adams era and the Cuomo era. People were tired of the scandals and the "swagger" talk. They wanted someone who spoke like a regular person, even if his ideas seemed radical to the folks in the penthouse suites.
What to Watch for Now
Since Mamdani took over City Hall on January 1, the focus has shifted from "who's running" to "how will he govern?"
The biggest friction point is his "30 by '30" plan—the push for a $30 minimum wage by 2030. Business leaders are already panicking, and there’s likely going to be a massive fight in the State Legislature over how to fund his free bus pilot program.
Also, keep an eye on the 2026 Congressional races. Because so many mayoral hopefuls (like Brad Lander) are now pivoting to federal seats, the political landscape is shifting again. Cuomo hasn't officially announced his next move, but his advisors aren't ruling out a run for Congress either. The "Cuomo vs. Everyone" saga is probably not over.
Actionable Next Steps for New Yorkers
If you're trying to keep up with the new administration, don't just wait for the nightly news.
- Check the City Record: This is where the new Mayor’s executive orders and budget proposals actually live. It's dry, but it's the only way to see what's actually changing.
- Follow the City Council hearings: Since Mamdani is further left than most of the Council, there’s going to be a lot of "checks and balances" happening. Speaker Adrienne Adams is a key figure to watch here.
- Update your voter registration: If you moved during the election chaos, make sure your info is current for the 2026 primaries. You can do this at the NYC Board of Elections website.
- Attend a Community Board meeting: This is where the fights over housing and city-owned grocery stores will actually start.
The 2025 race proved that New York City isn't a monolith. It’s a messy, loud, and surprisingly unpredictable place. Whether you're thrilled by the new Mayor or terrified of his tax plans, one thing is certain: the era of "politics as usual" in NYC is dead.