Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is claiming victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. He spoke to his supporters shortly after midnight Wednesday after pulling ahead in the first round of voting.

"Tonight, we made history. In the words of Nelson Mandela, 'It always seems impossible until it is done.' My friends, we have done it. I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City," he said.

Mamdani has not officially been declared the winner, however, because he has not received 50% of the vote.

The race will now move into ranked choice voting rounds, where the candidates with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and those ballots will be recounted with voters' other ranked choices.

The first time New York City used ranked choice voting was the 2021 mayoral primary. Eric Adams was not declared the winner in that race until weeks after Election Day.

"This is not my victory, this is ours"

Mamdani, 33, said he launched his campaign with "the vision of a city that every New Yorker could afford."

"We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford," he said. "Where rent stabilized apartments are actually stabilized. Where buses are fast and free. Where child care doesn't cost more than CUNY."

He said his campaign showed the world dreams can become reality.

"This is not my victory. This is ours," he said.

Mamdani also thanked fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who cross-endorsed him in a strategy to beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"Together, we have shown the power of the politics of the future, one of partnership and of sincerity," Mamdani said.

He said, with the primary over, he can reintroduce himself to New Yorkers.

"Not as you've seen me in a 30-second ad or in a mailer in your mailbox, but as how I will lead as your mayor," he said. "I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all."

"New Yorkers have strained to find a leader who represents us"

Mamdani, who represents part of Queens, also brought up issues outside of the five boroughs.

"There are millions of New Yorker who have strong feelings about what happens overseas. I am one of them," he said. "And while I will not abandon my beliefs or my commitments grounded in a demand for equality, for humanity, for all those who walk this earth, you have my word to reach further, to understand the perspectives of those with whom I disagree and to wrestle deeply with those disagreements."

He called out the president, saying the mayor of New York needs to "use their power to reject Donald Trump's fascism. To stop mass ICE agents from deporting our neighbors and to govern our city as a model for the Democratic party."

Mamdani concluded his speech saying democracy has been attacked from within.

"For too long, New Yorkers have strained to find a leader who represents us, who puts us first, and we have been betrayed time and again. After so many disappointments, the heart hardens. Belief becomes elusive," he said. "And when we no longer believe in our democracy, it only becomes easier for people like Donald Trump to convince us of his worth. For billionaires to convince us that they must always lead."

He pledged to remake New York "in the image of every New Yorker who has only known struggle."

"In our New York, the power belongs to the people," he said.

Cuomo and others congratulate Mamdani

With 93% of the first round of votes counted, Mamdani had 43.5% and Cuomo had 36.4%.

Cuomo called Mamdani on Tuesday night to congratulate him.

"He deserved it. He won," Cuomo said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams both commented on the outcome. 

"Today, voters made their voices heard, demanding a more affordable, more livable New York City. I hear them loud and clear," Hochul . "Zohran Mamdani built a formidable grassroots coalition, and I look forward to speaking with him in the days ahead about his ideas on how to ensure a safe, affordable, and livable New York City."

"What NYC deserves is a mayor who's proud to run on his record-not one who ran from his record, or one who has no record," Adams . "We deserve a mayor who will keep driving down crime, support our police, fight antisemitism, and stand up for working-class New Yorkers. It's time to unite. It's time to fight. We have a city to save."

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mamdani in the race, wished him congratulations. 

"You took on the political, economic and media Establishment- and you beat them. Now it's on to victory in the general election," Sanders . 

"Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city," . "Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won."

Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Elise Stefanik, both Republicans, blasted Hochul for the state of politics in New York and vowed to vote her out in 2026.