Andrew Cuomo Congratulates Zohran Mamdani on NYC Mayoral Primary Victory

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

After a stunning New York City Democratic mayoral primary, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo personally called state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday night to acknowledge his strong showing and offer congratulations for his victory in the first round of voting.

After polls closed at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, results showed Mamdani with a commanding lead. His victory in the first round of voting, while shy of the 50 percent needed to lock down the nomination, was enough that there appeared to be little way for Cuomo to mount a comeback in subsequent rounds of voting.

“Tonight was not our night,” Cuomo told supporters, before adding of Mamdani: “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.”

Cuomo said he called Mamdani to congratulate him on the successful evening, though he stopped short of explicitly conceding the race.

The New York Times reported that Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi “initially said the speech was a concession, but a short time later said the former governor would wait to concede until every vote was counted.”

Cuomo is registered to run as an Independent in the general election, which means he could still challenge Mamdani in November.