'A true champion' Hope overflows in New York as the outsider candidate claims victory

Zohran Mamdani's election downtown night party in Brooklyn on Tuesday night saw hundreds of his supporters erupt in applause as the democratic socialist from Queens was elected the next mayor of New York City.

- Anna Betts New York

"I'm ecstatic!"; "This is lifechanging!"; "I'm lost for words!".

These were just some of the exclamations heard in the crowd as they celebrated history in the making: New York has its first Muslim mayor.

The 34-year-old state assembly member won with more than 50% of the vote, defeating the former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa.

Supporters began arriving and gathering at the Brooklyn Paramount theatre at about 9pm, when the polls in New York closed.

Many were seen wearing Mamdani campaign merchandise such as baseball caps, beanies and T-shirts.

Before the results rolled in, a DJ on stage played dance music for the crowd as drinks flowed and anticipation built. Hope - one of the central themes of Mamdani's campaign - filled the room throughout the evening, with supporters sharing their optimism.

James Davis, whose labour union, PSC/Cuny, backed Mamdani, said he was hopeful and confident. Ibrahim Ahmed, 45, said he was motivated to volunteer for Mamdani's campaign because he believed that Mamdani "speaks the language that New York wants to hear right now". Awaiting the results, Ahmed said he was feeling "positive tonight".

Gustavo Gordillo, one of the co-chairs of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, said this night marked a turning point. He said: "I think we're going to have a mandate after tonight that shows that working-class New Yorkers are tired of mayors who have turned New York into a playground for the rich, and it's time for a new era of democratic socialist governance." Kathy Culter, 27, a volunteer since January, said: "This is 10 months in the making, blood, sweat and tears. I've been up since 5am this morning, I did the Brooklyn Bridge walk yesterday with Zohran.