New York Leftwing underdog surges in mayor poll

Zohran Mamdani trailed Andrew Cuomo, the frontrunner to be the next New York City mayor, by 30 points just a few months ago.

- Adam Gabbatt

Now, ahead of the Democratic primary today, the 33-year-old socialist has closed the gap with Cuomo, who is such an establishment politician that a huge bridge north of New York bears his last name.

The surge in support for Mamdani, an aspiring rapper-turned state politician, with a penchant for turning out snappy social media videos and a track record of progressive, leftwing ideas, has shown his clear ability to win over young voters. It also didn't hurt when he won the backing of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders this month.

Mamdani's rise has lent a new edge to an election that was in danger of becoming a procession for Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in disgrace in 2021 after being accused of sexual harassment.

For a Democratic party struggling to stand up to Donald Trump, the closely watched election will offer an insight into what rank-and-file Democrats desire: a good old boy promising a steady hand on the tiller, or a fresh outsider who has energized parts of a weary New York electorate with plans to freeze rent and make buses free throughout the city.

Mamdani's rise has been boosted by a social media following that dwarfs that of his rivals. He has almost a million followers across Instagram and TikTok, where he posts funny and self-aware videos selling himself to the public.