New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim of Indian-Ugandan descent, won the New York City Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo after the race was decided by ranked choice voting.

Cuomo, 67, conceded after election officials confirmed that neither candidate had secured a majority of first-choice votes.

Mamdani, 33, surged ahead of Cuomo after 80% of ballots were counted, according to the Associated Press. As of Wednesday, Mamdani held 44% of the vote to Cuomo’s 36%, with 93% of ballots counted.

Speaking to supporters in Queens after declaring victory, the democratic socialist invoked Nelson Mandela and called himself a "model for the Democratic Party."

"We have given our city permission to believe again," Mamdani said to a cheering crowd. "I pledge to you that we will remake this great city, not in my image, but in the image of every New Yorker who has only known struggle."

Mamdani ran primarily on affordability, focusing on the burdens faced by the city’s middle class and recent college graduates, from housing and public sanitation to food truck permits.

Cuomo delivered a concession speech around the same time, acknowledging his rival’s strong performance.

"Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night, and he put together a great campaign. He touched young people, inspired them, and got them to come out and vote,” Cuomo said. “He really ran a highly impactful campaign. I called him. I congratulated him. Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.”

The race grew increasingly contentious in recent months when both became the top two contenders out of 11 candidates. Cuomo criticized his younger competitor's limited political experience and his anti-Zionist comments, while Mamdani accused Cuomo of being corrupt, out of touch and Islamophobic.

Mamdani is one of the most vocal pro-Palestinian mayoral candidates in the city’s history. He has publicly supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and said that as mayor, he would move to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he set foot in the city.

If he defeats Republican incumbent Eric Adams in November, Mamdani would become the first Muslim to lead New York City — home to the world’s second-largest Jewish population after Tel Aviv.