'Mandate for change': Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral election

It is a historic moment as Mamdani also becomes the first South Asian and first Muslim to lead the city.

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Ugandan-born Mamdani, a Democrat, beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, to become the youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the US.

"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," the self-described democratic socialist told the crowd during a victory speech.

Democrats also won governor races in Virginia and New Jersey, while in California voters backed a proposition to redraw the congressional electoral map ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Mamdani made affordability the central message of his campaign, pledging to expand social programmes paid for by new taxes on high earners and corporations.