Zohran Mamdani, 34, has won the New York City mayoral election and will become the first Muslim mayor of the biggest city in the US
The self-described democratic socialist was relatively unknown just months ago, and surged to victory with promises to tax millionaires to pay for expanded social programmes
"In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light," Mamdani says in a victory speech where he outlines his policies and challenges President Trump
Trump has threatened to cut NYC's federal funding if Mamdani won over independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa
Meanwhile, Democrats are projected to win governor races in Virginia and New Jersey
Also today, Californians voted to redraw the state's congressional districts to favour the Democratic Party ahead of elections next year
Trump was not on the ballot on Tuesday, but he cast a shadow over all these contests, writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York
Image source, Nada Tawfik / BBCOne of Donald Trump’s biggest foes, New York’s Attorney General Letitia James has arrived at the Mamdani victory party, taking selfies with those in the crowd.
Many are wearing yellow and blue beanies and baseball caps with Zohran Mamdani’s name on it.
New York has its own response to the red MAGA hat tonight.
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent
Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, is notable in many ways. He will become city’s youngest mayor since 1892, its first Muslim mayor and its first mayor born in Africa.
That alone makes his victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa remarkable. But more than that, he represents the kind of politician that many in the party’s left has been seeking for years.
He’s young and charismatic, with his generation’s natural comfort with social media. His ethnicity reflects the diversity of the Democratic Party’s base. He hasn’t shied away from a political fight and has proudly espoused left-wing causes – such as free childcare, expanded public transportation and government intervention in free market systems. He has shown a laser-like ability to focus on the kind of core economic issues that have been a priority for working-class voters who have drifted from the Democratic Party recently but he hasn’t disavowed the left’s cultural principles.
By running against and defeating Cuomo – a former New York governor who was himself the son of a governor - he has vanquished the entrenched Democratic establishment viewed by many on the left as woefully out of touch with their party and their nation.
But critics have warned that such a candidate is unelectable in broad swathes of America - and Republicans have gleefully held the self-avowed democratic socialist up as the far-left face of the Democratic Party.
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Brooklyn
The news has started to ripple through the crowd.
Towards the back, public advocate Jumaane Williams began to dance around and celebrate.
What was going on? curious reporters asked.
Then the room lit up with cheers: the giant screen playing local news declared that Mamdani had won.
The call came early and out of nowhere and many supporters seemed stunned before they realised what was happening.
The dancing, jumping and cheers haven’t stopped since.
The DJ spins up Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” and the Brooklyn Paramount officially turned into an election night dance party.
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from New York
A Manhattan watch party, not tied to any particular candidate, has erupted into several rounds of applause, screams and cheers as the race is called for Mamdani.
The mood here now is jubilant. Voters are drinking, talking and cheering.
“This is a big, big deal,” one person said.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from Brooklyn
There is not a person left in their seats after Mamdani has just been projected to win the New York City mayoral election.
Everyone is screaming and cheering for Mamdani in this central Brooklyn bar filled with young people.
People are now loudly chanting “Zohran, Zohran, Zohran!”
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is projected to win New York’s mayoral election, the BBC's US partner CBS reports.
The 34-year-old will be the city’s youngest mayor in more than 100 years and the first Muslim and South Asian person to hold the position.
More follows…
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersDemocrat Mikie Sherill wins the New Jersey gubernatorial race, according to reports by multiple US media outlets.
The congresswoman beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a race that focused on the cost of living in the state and is widely seen as a referendum on US President Donald Trump.
More follows…
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from New York
I’m at a watch party in New York’s Flatiron District in Manhattan, where the crowd is anxiously gathered around TV screens as results start to come in.
This neighbourhood isn’t particularly working class. It’s filled with luxury housing, high-rise office buildings and corporate professionals.
Still, excitement for gubernatorial hopeful Zohran Mamdani is everywhere. The crowd cheers when any mention of the Democratic frontrunner comes on the loudspeakers.
I’m hearing chants of “Go Mamdani!” over the chatter of the crowd.
Morgan Gisholt Minard
Reporting from New York
Image source, Morgan Gisholt Minard / BBCAt bohemian hall in Astoria, Queens, the watch party organised by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America reaches capacity before it even officially began - and a queue of hopeful Zohran Mamdani supporters stretches around the entire block.
Inside, a young and racially diverse crowd of over a thousand supporters - reflective of the coalition the young candidate has built - have filled the courtyard. They are alternately cheering as their candidate’s television advertisements fill the large screens hanging around the watch party, and booing when President Trump inevitably appears onscreen as part of election night coverage.
They also boo when the Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer - their own senator from New York - appears on the television screens. Earlier today, and indeed throughout the campaign, Schumer has declined to endorse Mamdani.
“Look, I voted,” he said earlier to reporters on Capitol Hill. “And I look forward to working with the next mayor to help New York City.”
The New York City Board of Elections is celebrating the highest voter turnout it has had in more than five decades with a firework-filled post on X.
"We officially hit TWO MILLION votes - first time since 1969!" the post says.
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Madeline Halpert
Reporting from Brooklyn
Packed bars have grown quiet and music has come to a stop as people watch local news channels to see the results come in.
At a bar in central Brooklyn, there are loud cheers and hoorays from the crowd as early voting results from US media show Mamdani up 51% to Cuomo’s 39%.
Much of the results still have yet to come in.
We've had some rapid updates from across the US, with a Democrat winning the governor race in Virginia and polls closing in New Jersey.
But let's now check in on the mayoral race in New York City, it's an election that has garnered international attention - as well as a lot of attention from President Donald Trump who has frequently made negative comments about the Democratic Party candidate Zohran Mamdani.
With polls closing about 15 minutes ago in New York, CBS News is rating the race as leaning Democratic.
There was a high early voter turnout in New York, meaning a lot of those votes are getting tallied fast.
Sarah Smith
North America editor
Zohran Mamdani supporters at this “watch party” in Astoria are convinced that only his brand of politics can rescue the Democratic Party after its crushing defeat last year.
They argue that other Democrats offer nothing but opposition to Donald Trump. Only Mamdani, they say, has positive ideas to address the affordability crisis in New York. The party needs to learn from the excitement and enthusiasm Mamdani has generated in his campaign, according to his supporters, and adopt his type of progressive policies right across the US.
But it is worth remembering that New York City is not representative of the rest of America. What works in elections here is not necessarily the way to win in more conservative swing states.
Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from New York
Standing outside of several voting sites in Manhattan and the Bronx today, I’ve seen a lot of friendly encounters between canvassers and passersby.
Many people walking down the street have called out their support for Mamdani or Cuomo.
Others have stopped to chat about their concerns for the city and which policies they're excited about from the candidates.
Some have stopped to introduce their dogs and let the canvassers pet them.
Still, I’ve seen a few heated encounters, with passersby heckling the people passing out candidates’ flyers.
Near a polling site on the Upper East Side, a man passing by yells out at several people canvassing for Mamdani.
“New York will never be a communist city!” he hollers as he crosses the street. “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”
It is 21:00 ET and polls have now closed across the five boroughs of New York City.
As a reminder - if you’re just joining us - Democratic state assembly member Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, are facing off to be the next mayor of New York.
Stay tuned…
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Brooklyn
Image source, Kayla Epstein / BBCWith minutes until the polls close, the press is packing into the Brooklyn Paramount theatre where Zohran Mamdani is holding his election night party.
There’s a big screen set up on stage playing NY1, the city’s local news station.
The public is still lining up outside, but the planners are clearly expecting to throw a party.
There’s a DJ booth set up on stage left.
The Talking Heads’ "This Must Be the Place" is blasting over the speakers. As results start to trickle in, we’ll find out if it was a fitting song choice or not.
The Democratic National Committee says that Abigail Spanberger's victory in Virginia's gubernatorial race is "another sign that voters are rejecting Donald Trump and his Republican allies’ extreme agenda".
Spanberger made history as Virginia's first woman governor and the DNC touted her as "a leader for all Virginians and [whol] will never be afraid to stand up to the chaos coming out of Washington as it harms Virginians".
"With tonight’s victory, Virginians also delivered a resounding rejection of the self-serving and corrupt Trump establishment," said DNC Chair Ken Martin. "It’s time for Republicans to cherish their short time in power — because Democrats are going to keep winning, and we have a vision for this country that’s a lot bigger than building a ballroom.”
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York
Image source, Nada Tawfik / BBCI’m now inside Zohran Mamdani’s election watch party, where the political world’s eyes will be focused tonight.
The stage is set and media are now filing in.
The DJ has already started spinning to get the party going at this palace-like music venue.
If you’re curious about all of the flags on stage, they are each of New York’s five boroughs flags and of course, the American flag.
Virginians 'chose pragmatism over partisanship', says Spanberger
Abigail Spanberger has just taken the stage after winning the Virginia governor race.
The Democrat thanks her supporters and her opponent, and says "tonight we sent a message to the whole world".
She says they chose their commonwealth of Virginia, "over chaos".
Spanberger says her leadership will not focus on division and partisan politics.