New York City Nears Milestone: First Muslim Mayor Possible

New York City is holding a major Democratic primary today that could reshape its political future—voters may move one step closer to electing the city’s first-ever Muslim mayor.

The two frontrunners are former governor Andrew Cuomo, making a comeback bid, and Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member and self-described democratic socialist born in Uganda.

Middle East Conflict Adds Tension to Local Race

The election isn’t just about local issues. It comes days after U.S. airstrikes on Iran, and tensions in Gaza remain high—topics that have unexpectedly defined the primary race.

Cuomo has voiced strong support for Israel, while Mamdani has publicly condemned military action in Gaza and criticized the U.S. role in regional conflicts. Their opposing views have turned the race into a reflection of New Yorkers' divided opinions on global politics.

Ranked-Choice Voting Could Shake Up Results

Polls have previously shown Cuomo in the lead. But a new Emerson College survey suggests that Mamdani could pull off a win under the city’s ranked-choice voting system, which redistributes votes from lower-ranking candidates until one emerges with a majority.

That could give Mamdani, despite his limited experience, a chance at an upset—especially with his campaign focusing on rent freezes, universal child care, and bold social programs funded by government borrowing.

Andrew Cuomo is afraid he'll lose, so his donors want you to fear me.

His SuperPAC just sent out a mailer that artificially lengthened and darkened my beard.

This is blatant Islamophobia—the kind of racism that explains why MAGA billionaires support his campaign. pic.twitter.com/5nqWKnbKy9

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 12, 2025

Race Gets Personal as Campaigns Heat Up

Tensions between the candidates have also gone personal. Mamdani recently accused a pro-Cuomo political group of altering his image in a campaign photo to make his beard appear longer and darker, calling the move Islamophobic.

What’s Next

Whoever wins today will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in November. Adams won in 2021 as a Democrat but is now running as an independent. In a city that leans heavily Democratic, today’s winner could likely take the mayor’s seat in the general election.

The result of this primary could not only mark a historic milestone for representation—but also reshape how New York tackles both local and global challenges.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here