Democratic candidates did exceptionally well in the US mayoral polls, the first major US election since President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office.
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is set to become New York’s first South Asian and first Muslim mayor, defeating Andrew Cuomo, who has the backing of Trump, Elon Musk and Bill Ackman.
In addition to Mamdani, Democrats secured mayoral victories in Virginia and New Jersey, the only states electing new leaders this year.
Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill was elected governor of New Jersey, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state representative. The US polls have gained considerable national attention as the 2026 midterms approach and especially amid Trump’s outspoken criticism of Mamdani.
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Here’s a look at how the international media covered the US mayoral polls:
Does the “charismatic” Mamdani still have challenges?
In an article titled “Mamdani seals remarkable victory – but real challenges lie ahead”, BBC News highlighted how the 34-year-old mayor-elect resonates with the ideology of the Democratic Party.
“He is young and charismatic, with his generation’s natural comfort with social media. His ethnicity reflects the diversity of the party’s base,” the report said.
Mamdani’s emphatic victory was compared to that of Democrat Bill de Blasio, who won his race 12 years ago by tackling economic and social inequality in New York. But de Blasio left office eight years later, facing widespread unpopularity and mixed results as he grappled with limits on his mayoral power to implement new policies, the report said.
“Mamdani will have to contend with the same limits – and the same expectations,” it said. This becomes especially important because Trump has previously threatened to cut federal funding if Mamdani comes to power.
Read also | The New York Post’s “Red Apple” cover mocks Zohran Mamdani’s victory
Is the Democratic victory a signal for Trump?
According to an exit poll conducted by US CNN, voters attributed dissatisfaction with Trump as a factor that helped propel the Democratic victory in the election.
In four major contests, including the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, a majority of New York mayoral voters disapprove of Trump’s performance.
In Virginia, New Jersey and California, more than half of voters see their vote as a signal to Trump, mostly in opposition. This sentiment contributed to Democratic victories, as seen in Mickey Sherrill’s wins in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger’s wins in Virginia.
Read also | Trump’s chilling news as Indian American Zohran Mamdani wins in New York
What does the victory mean for the future of the Democrats?
According to a report by the British Guardian, although the Democrats won across key states, they should not misread the results.
“While losing an election is bad, misreading the results can be worse. When Democrats narrowly lost the House but beat expectations in 2022, they took it as a sign that all was well with the status quo. Instead of challenging Joe Biden, they let him run for a second term and paid the price,” the report said.
Did Mamdani win because of NYC’s love of socialism?
According to a US Fox News report, Mamdani’s victory cannot be attributed to his idea of socialism; rather, people voted out of frustration with an unfair system.
“Mamdani didn’t win because New York suddenly fell in love with socialism. He won because he captured something every politician should be listening to right now — a deep frustration that the system no longer feels fair,” the report claims.
The report goes on to highlight the rising cost of living and taxes in the city, adding: “This frustration isn’t limited to struggling families or low-income voters. It’s spreading to the well-off — educated, ambitious, mobile professionals who should have lived the dream but can’t shake the feeling they’re falling behind.”
Will Mamdani’s victory affect the Jews?
The Jewish media outlet Jerusalem Post has frequently urged voters not to vote for Mamdani, citing the threat to Jews. In a recent report, the post said: “The city’s Jewish community was divided in its support for Mamdani.
A report touting Mamdani’s victory went on to claim, “This is a clear message to the Democratic Party: Anti-Semites can lead; they are no longer on the fringes. It means supporting a boycott of Israel — not just West Bank goods, but sovereign Israel — is normal.”
The remarks come after Trump claimed Mamdani was hateful to Jews and asked voters to vote against him.
