New York City: Zohran Mamdani has secured a historic victory in the race to lead the largest city in the United States, according to projections by the Associated Press late Tuesday, shortly after polls closed in a closely watched contest that captured global attention.

The 34-year-old state assemblyman’s win marks a groundbreaking moment for New York City - home to over 8.4 million residents and a global hub of culture, finance, and diversity. Mamdani becomes the first Muslim, the first person of South Asian descent, and the first person born in Africa to be elected as Mayor of New York City.

An exuberant crowd gathered at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre on Tuesday night to celebrate the victory, as Mamdani prepared to address supporters following a day of record-breaking voter turnout.

On Monday, Mamdani expressed gratitude to his supporters, saying they had “brought us to this point of making history in this city.”

While his victory has been widely celebrated for its symbolic and cultural significance, many of Mamdani’s supporters emphasize that the campaign’s success stemmed not only from his identity but from his steadfast focus on affordability, housing, and equitable development - issues that resonated deeply across the city’s diverse communities.