For anyone who has watched New York City's political evolution since Bill de Blasio's 2013 mayoral victory, the triumph of 33-year-old Ugandan-born socialist Zohran Mamdani shouldn't come as a shock. It's the inevitable conclusion of a decade-long progressive takeover.

Mamdani's commanding performance, capturing 43.5% of first-place votes against Andrew Cuomo's 36.3%, represents more than just another Democratic primary upset. It could signal the end of the badly decaying Democratic party nationwide. According to preliminary New York City Board of Elections results, with final ranked-choice tabulations due July 1, this victory marks the completion of a systematic institutional conquest.

The real winners are the Working Families Party (WFP) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). New York City's DSA chapter—part of the largest socialist organization in the United States—has over 90,000 members as of February 2021. Run by thousands of members and activists and illegal and legal immigrants who work together to build a socialist organization across all five boroughs. These organizations have methodically constructed a progressive infrastructure now powerful enough to control the remnants of the Clinton-Obama-Biden Democratic Party in America's most influential city with the nation's largest budget.

The infiltration runs deeper than most realize. Per the NY Post, "A hardcore Democratic Socialists of America operative whose partner is a member of a designated terrorist organization is a New York City employee — and his Campaign Finance Board position gives him access to sensitive information about anyone running for office and the ability to selectively enforce or influence compliance."

With Mamdani receiving millions in matching funds from the board—more than any other candidate—it's clear that DSA has developed a layered approach to domination that includes strategic placement of staffers in key oversight positions.

The raw numbers underscore the magnitude of this upset: Mamdani secured 432,305 votes compared to Cuomo's 361,840—a commanding 70,000-vote margin that the socialist candidate will carry into the November 2025 general election as the Democratic standard-bearer.

Cuomo, a remnant of the decaying Democrat party, got walloped. A former governor and seasoned political operator armed with endless establishment endorsements, he suffered an embarrassing defeat. This raises a pressing question: Will he drop out and lick his wounds, or will his bruised ego drive him to continue a campaign that could make Mamdani even more powerful?

Unlike typical local elections with historically low voter turnout, the NYC Democratic mayoral primary had energy. CBS News estimates the total voter turnout approached 1.1 million, mostly on Election Day, representing more than one-third of the city's registered Democrats and noticeably exceeding 2021's turnout. Compared to the 940,000 Democratic voters who cast ballots in 2021, the 1.1 million total represents roughly a 15-20% increase.

Borough-level data reveals the scope of engagement: Manhattan saw 122,642 early voter check-ins, a 102% increase since 2021. Brooklyn counted 142,735 early votes (118% increase), while Queens recorded 75,778 votes (114% increase).

NYC manages the largest municipal budget in the nation—over $110 billion annually—making the mayor's office one of the most powerful positions in American politics outside of Washington. DC. Business leaders and real estate developers, spooked by the prospect of socialist governance, have already begun threatening relocations if Mamdani wins in November.

Anyone seeking proof of Mamdani's viability should have examined the New York City Council, where progressives have systematically built power for years. The Council's Progressive Caucus, comprised of members who self-identify as aligned with progressive community issues, now includes 18 members who have fundamentally reshaped the city's legislative agenda.

The roster reads like a who's who of democratic socialist organizing: Christopher Marte, Carlina Rivera, Carmen De La Rosa, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Althea Stevens, Amanda Farías, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Dr. Nantasha Williams, Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Sandy Nurse, Rita Joseph, Shabana Hanif, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Chi Ossé, and Alexa Avilés.

These aren't traditional Democrats, but socialist movement activists who captured institutional power through superior grassroots organizing and ideological clarity.

This crisis of confidence among the city's economic elite creates an unexpected opportunity for Curtis Sliwa, running as a Republican, and current Mayor Eric Adams, on the ticket as an independent. Both now find themselves positioned as alternatives to socialist rule.

The general election in November presents a clear choice between socialist governance and the accepted but somewhat manageable decline of New York City. 

President Trump, who caused nearly every neighborhood in New York City to shift right, should endorse Eric Adams. Adams should forge a strategic alliance with Curtis Sliwa, creating a unified moderate coalition that can effectively challenge Mamdani's ideological extremism.

Most critically, Andrew Cuomo must face reality. His continued candidacy only serves to fracture the anti-socialist vote. For the sake of New York City, New York State, and the nation's economic future, Cuomo should step aside and rally behind Adams. The stakes are too high for ego-driven politics when socialism threatens to govern America's economic capital.