Zohran Mamdani spoke at a rally in Harlem on Saturday as he sought to build on momentum from New York City’s Democratic primary, telling the crowd that people struggling to pay for housing, groceries and bus fare are hungry for change.

Mamdani appeared at a National Action Network rally days after declaring victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the presumed favorite in the primary. Results will be finalized after the city’s ranked choice vote-counting resumes Tuesday.

“What our victory showed on election night was less a victory between one man and another, but a victory for a city that New Yorkers can afford,” Mamdani said at a rally attended by Black clergy and filmmaker Spike Lee

The Rev. Al Sharpton, the influential leader of the network, praised Mamdani for coming to the rally, despite reports that he lost some of the city’s most solidly Black neighborhoods in the primary.

“He could have went the other way and said, ‘It’s me against them.’ But he came this morning and he proclaimed something. And I gave him a lot of credit for that,” Sharpton said.

The winner of the Democratic primary advances to November’s election.

Mayor Eric Adams is running for reelection as an independent candidate. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the crime-fighting Guardian Angels, is running as a Republican. Cuomo, who has conceded defeat in the primary, also could run as an independent candidate.

In Harlem, the 33-year-old state lawmaker stuck to a cost-of-living theme that skyrocketed him to political stardom, weaving in quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., the Bible and the city’s first Black mayor, David Dinkins.

He said people question whether the city will become “a museum” of a place where working people could once thrive.

“What we have seen in the last two weeks is a hunger from New Yorkers to move beyond the days of museums and relics and make this city a living, breathing testament to what is possible.”

Zohran Mamdani Rallies Harlem, Pushes Affordability Message/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Zohran Mamdani rallied supporters in Harlem after his surprise win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. He emphasized affordability and unity, seeking to build support in Black neighborhoods. Final results await ranked-choice vote counts next week.

Rev. Al Sharpton, right, speaks during the National Action Network’s Saturday action rally at House of Justice in Harlem, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Quick Look

Zohran Mamdani Heads To Harlem After Win

Mamdani speaks at National Action Network rally.

Pledges a city working people can afford.

Faces Eric Adams, Curtis Sliwa in November.

Final primary results pending ranked-choice count.

Rev. Al Sharpton praises Mamdani’s outreach efforts.

Rev. Al Sharpton, right, and Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, left, speak during the National Action Network’s Saturday action rally at House of Justice in Harlem, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Mamdani Rallies Harlem Supporters After Primary Upset Victory

Deep Look

NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani took his message of affordability and change to Harlem on Saturday, fresh off his stunning victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, as he sought to strengthen support among voters still skeptical of his insurgent campaign.

Speaking at a National Action Network rally, Mamdani addressed an energized crowd of Black clergy, activists, and residents, declaring that his campaign was about transforming New York into a city working people can afford to call home.

“Our victory wasn’t just between two candidates,” Mamdani said, referencing his win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. “It was a victory for a city that New Yorkers can afford.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton praised Mamdani for showing up in Harlem, even after reports that the candidate struggled to secure votes in some of the city’s predominantly Black neighborhoods.

“He could have gone the other way and said, ‘It’s me against them.’ But he came this morning and proclaimed something,” Sharpton said. “I give him a lot of credit for that.”

While Mamdani has declared victory, the final results won’t be certified until the city finishes counting ranked-choice ballots next week.

The 33-year-old state assemblyman has rocketed to prominence with a platform focused on combating the city’s affordability crisis. At the Harlem rally, he invoked Martin Luther King Jr., biblical passages, and former Mayor David Dinkins as he spoke about the city’s future.

“People are asking whether New York is destined to become a museum of what once was possible for working people,” Mamdani said. “But the last two weeks have shown New Yorkers are hungry to move beyond museums and relics and make this city a living, breathing testament to what is possible.”

Mamdani is set to face off in November’s general election against Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels. Although Cuomo has conceded, he has left the door open to running as an independent.

More on US News

NYC Democratic mayoral candidates make last push ahead of primary as early voting ends

Lucy Yang has more from Crown Heights.

Lucy Yang has more from Crown Heights.

Lucy Yang has more from Crown Heights.

Lucy Yang has more from Crown Heights.

NEW YORK (WABC) — Sunday was the final day for early voting ahead of Tuesday’s primary election in New York.

According to the NYC Board of Elections, nearly 385,000 people have cast a ballot in the eight days of early voting.

While New Yorkers cast their ballots over the weekend, leading Democratic candidates were out making their final pitch to voters.

Crown Heights was fired up on Sunday night at the Get Out The Vote rally. There were big cheers for up-and-coming 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.

“This city can actually be affordable. This city deserves a mayor who will freeze the rent, make buses fast and free and make universal healthcare,” Mamdani said.

He is also campaigning on free childcare and non-profit grocery stores. It is not clear who will pay for all of this, but his message is resonating.

Mamdani polled at 1% when he first entered the race as a little-known state assemblyman. Now, he’s on the heels of the front runner: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo

“We lost 500,000 people in New York City since COVID, 500,000 disproportionately the wealthiest, because they left because of the taxes,” Cuomo said.

Except the exodus started under his watch. The 67-year-old lifelong politician had to step down from Albany in disgrace after numerous women accused him of sexual harassment. Plus, there was his scandalous handling of COVID.

The New York Working Families Party determined Cuomo does make a comeback. They are supporting progressives like Mamdani and City Comptroller Brad Lander

“We’ve got a City Hall so corrupt it’s going to need to be cleaned out with a power washer. Working families bring a power washer. Andrew Cuomo just brings in more corruption,” Lander said.

“I live for working families because I come from a working family,” she said.

So how can one progressive party support so many candidates? It’s because of ranked voting for the primary. New Yorkers can choose up to five candidates and rank them in order of preference.

No fewer than four mayoral candidates appeared at the National Action Network in Harlem on Saturday morning, posing with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Also there was Spike Lee, telling everyone to vote regardless of the weather.

“I know it’s gonna be 100 degrees Tuesday. That’s do the right thing, hot,” he said.

Joe Torres has the latest on the New York City mayoral race.

It was Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ only appearance of the day.

“I know what it feels like to be a mother. I know what it feels like to be a mother in pain, and I know what it feels like to want more for your children than the city is offering right now,” she said.

Still in his suit, Queens Assemblyman Councilman Zohran Mamdani hit the streets to meet voters and get the endorsement of several politicians in his home borough.

“He has been our assembly member fighting for land use projects, fighting for historical amounts of affordable housing,” Councilwoman Julia Wan said.

“This is an ever-expanding movement. This is a coalition,” Mamdani said.

Comptroller Brad Lander, who has aligned himself with Mamdani, appeared with one of Andrew Cuomo’s accusers, Lindsay Boylan.

“I often talk about Andrew Cuomo’s abuse of women as a symptom of his deeper abuse of power,” Boylan said.

“He wants to redeem himself by pounding his fist,” Lander added.

Cuomo appeared with the mother of teen murder victim, Junior Feliz Guzmanan.

“We need more police. New Yorkers don’t feel safe now. It’s time for leadership with experience,” she said.

“One of the top priorities has to be public safety. That, in my mind, is the foundation,” Cuomo said.

NYC PRIMARY ELECTION RESOURCES

NYC mayoral primary race enters final weekend, last chance for early voters

Joe Torres has the latest on the New York City mayoral race.

Joe Torres has the latest on the New York City mayoral race.

Joe Torres has the latest on the New York City mayoral race.

Joe Torres has the latest on the New York City mayoral race.

NEW YORK (WABC) — This weekend marks the last for candidates to make their pitch and early voters to cast their ballots before Tuesday’s primary.

For voters wanting to hit the polls ahead of election day, early voting ends Sunday. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials are urging voters to cast their ballots over the weekend or during cooler hours of the day as temperatures are expected to climb into three-digits.

While early voters cast their ballots, the candidates were out stumping for voters.

No fewer than four mayoral candidates appeared at the National Action Network in Harlem on Saturday morning, posing together with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Also there was Spike Lee, telling everyone to vote regardless of the weather.

“I know it’s gonna be 100 degrees Tuesday. That’s do the right thing, hot,” he said.

It was Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ only appearance of the day.

“I know what it feels like to be a mother. I know what it feels like to be a mother in pain, and I know what it feels like to want more for your children than the city is offering right now,” she said.

Still in his suit, Queens Assemblyman Councilman Zohran Mamdani hit the streets to meet voters and get the endorsement of several politicians in his home borough.

“He has been our assembly member fighting for land use projects, fighting for historical amounts of affordable housing,” Councilwoman Julia Wan said.

“This is an ever-expanding movement. This is a coalition,” Mamdani said.

Comptroller Brad Lander, who has aligned himself with Mamdani, appeared with one of Andrew Cuomo’s accusers, Lindsay Boylan.

“I often talk about Andrew Cuomo’s abuse of women as a symptom of his deeper abuse of power,” Boylan said.

“He wants to redeem himself by pounding his fist,” Lander added.

Cuomo appeared with the mother of teen murder victim, Junior Feliz Guzmanan.

“We need more police. New Yorkers don’t feel safe now. It’s time for leadership with experience,” she said.

“One of the top priorities has to be public safety. That, in my mind, is the foundation,” Cuomo said.

NYC PRIMARY ELECTION RESOURCES