In a stunning upset to the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, 33-year-old Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo to become the presumptive nominee. Cuomo has conceded the race, although the results will not become official until July 1 when all votes have been tallied.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist serving the 36th district in Queens, was elected to the Assembly in 2020. Since then he has sponsored legislation that led to the creation of a free bus pilot program, and was arrested at a 2021 protest calling to extend the eviction moratorium. In the mayoral race he’s campaigned on affordable housing and economic justice, promising to build 200,000 new homes for low-income families and seniors, and double the investment in public housing.
“Housing affordability has become a top concern for voters in New York—far ahead of crime,” said Ritti Singh, communications director for NYS Tenant Bloc, which endorsed Mamdani. “That’s challenging a dominant narrative we’ve had. It’s something that cuts across political affiliation, geography, language, nationality … the rent is too damn high.”
Singh told Filter that tenants’ rights organizations will be working closely with Mamdani as the race moves forward.
His platform describes a plan to help those “stuck in our City’s shelter system” by prioritizing investment in programs like the Senior Affordable Rental Apartments to produce 100-percent affordable housing for low-income seniors, and the Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability program to produce 100-percent affordable housing for low-income families.
Mamdani has proposed creating a Department of Community Safety, which would prioritize investment in social safety nets, rather than arresting and prosecuting people. This would involve community “violence interrupters” as well as hospital-based violence prevention programs, and mental health crisis response teams including deploying outreach workers in 100 subway stations.
“Tenants are the majority of New Yorkers, and Zohran Mamdani is someone who was part of the tenants’ movement since he got elected,” Singh said. “We knew we were up against crazy spending by the people who want to make sure they can keep raising rents. We didn’t know what was going to happen, and I think our big bet paid off. Organized tenants are a force that can overcome massive real estate spending.”
In 2022, Mamdani and Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán released an overdose tip sheet that correctly advised New Yorkers not to use the word “overdose” if calling 911.
Mamdani also been outspoken about prioritizing substance use disorder treatment over incarceration, ending solitary confinement in city jails, and closing the notorious Rikers Island while transitioning to the new borough-based jail system. He supports using opioid settlement payouts to fund overdose prevention centers, and has previously sponsored legislation to ban drug testing during pregnancy.
In 2022 he and Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán (D-Astoria) released an overdose tip sheet that correctly advised New Yorkers not to use the word “overdose” if calling 911—doing so makes it more likely that New York City Police Department officers will arrive along with the paramedics, who would arrive with naloxone either way.
“Tell the operator that the person is not responsive and not breathing,” the tip sheet states. “Do not mention a possible overdose! This will ensure the call is prioritized and should result in medical help only.”
Incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who has the distinction of being the city’s first mayor to face federal criminal indictments, had already dropped out of the Democratic primary. But he’s vowed to run as an independent candidate, and has expressed intentions to sue the New York City Board of Elections for limiting independent candidates to one line on the ballot; he wants to run under two, both of which he came up with himself: EndAntiSemitism and Safe&Affordable. His complaint is centered on the fact that major party candidates can also appear on the ballot a second time as an independent.
Cuomo, meanwhile, may run as an independent under a ballot line of his own creation as well: Fight and Deliver.
Image via New York State Assembly
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