The Fox News Decision Desk has projected that New York City will elect Democratic Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor. The self-described democratic socialist toppled former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a contentious fight for the future of New York City — and possibly the direction of the Democratic Party.

Mamdani, the 34-year-old Ugandan-born state assemblyman from Queens, triggered a political earthquake when he declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary in June, pulling an upset over a former governor who was widely expected to win the party’s nomination.

He has since been catapulted onto the national stage, teaming up with progressive power duo Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to rally New York City voters for his affordability agenda, which includes ambitious campaign promises like rent freezes, fast and free buses, city-run grocery stores and free childcare.

It’s a race that President Donald Trump himself has been watching closely, labeling Mamdani a «100% Communist Lunatic» and «My little communist» — monikers Mamdani has rejected. On the eve of Election Day, Trump endorsed Cuomo and floated cutting federal funds to New York City if Mamdani won. 

FINAL STRETCH: MAMDANI’S LARGE LEAD SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC MAYORAL RACE

In the days leading up to the election, Mamdani vowed to use the «bully pulpit» and the judicial system to fight back against Trump’s «threats.»

«Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect,» Mamdani said Monday.

CUOMO CLOSES GAP ON MAMDANI AS NYC MAYOR RACE TIGHTENS DRAMATICALLY IN NEW POLL

Mamdani’s primary success exposed a divide within the Democratic Party, which suffered big losses up and down the ballot last year and has since struggled to put up a united front against the Trump administration without clear party leadership.

Cuomo resigned from office in 2021 in the face of multiple controversies, including several sexual harassment claims, which he has denied. After losing the primary he was expected to win, Cuomo challenged Mamdani as an Independent candidate in the general election, and has since charged Mamdani of being more a socialist than a Democrat.

«The truth is, there’s a quiet civil war going on in the Democratic Party right now,» Cuomo told Fox News last week. «You have an extreme left. Radical left. Bernie Sanders, AOC — Mamdani is just the banner carrier for that movement — versus the mainstream moderate Democrats. They now call me moderate. They used to call me liberal. Now, I’m a moderate because the whole party shifted.»

New York Democrats were reluctant to endorse Mamdani’s mayoral campaign after he secured the Democratic nomination.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to endorse Mamdani, despite telling reporters he has a «good relationship with him» and that they are «continuing to talk.» Mamdani was arrested for protesting the war in Gaza and calling for a ceasefire outside Schumer’s home in Brooklyn in 2023.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave an 11th-hour endorsement for Mamdani after months of equivocating. The announcement came the day before early voting began.

Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a mayoral debate, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York City.  (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani’s campaign in September and later joined him on the campaign trail. When pressed about whether Mamdani would endorse Hochul, he refused to affirm his support for the sitting governor.

Hochul will be critical to Mamdani’s plan to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers to pay for his radical campaign agenda, as a tax hike would require state approval.

The governor has maintained that she will not raise taxes, which earned her some heckling at a recent Queens rally, when Mamdani’s supporters shouted, «Tax the rich!»

Mamdani has faced a relentless news cycle since securing the Democratic nomination.

Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, the founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, have said that Mamdani would not do enough to protect Jewish New Yorkers if elected mayor.

Mamdani refused to condemn the term «globalize the intifada» during the primary, widely considered a call to violence against Jews. He has since committed to discouraging others from using the term.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul hold hands on stage as they attend a «New York is Not For Sale» rally at Forest Hills Stadium, in the Queens borough of New York City, on Oct. 26, 2025.  (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)

Weeks before Election Day, a slate of prominent New York City rabbis joined more than 650 rabbis nationwide to sign «A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,» asserting that Jewish Americans «cannot remain silent» on discrimination against Jewish people and citing Mamdani’s stances that are critical of Israel.

Mamdani, who is of Indian descent, will be the first South Asian and first Muslim mayor of New York City.

Religion has been a defining issue in the mayoral race, as many Jewish New Yorkers have rejected Mamdani’s positions on Israel, including his calling the war in Gaza a «genocide» and his refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Mamdani has maintained that he «would not recognize any state’s right to exist with a system of hierarchy on the basis of race, of religion.»

When asked during last week’s mayoral debate if Mamdani has any regrets about his «long-standing» anti-Israel views, the democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers, as he has throughout the campaign.

Mamdani has a long record of supporting the pro-Palestinian movement, including at Bowdoin College, where he founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani supporters gather outside 30 Rock in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

With weeks until Election Day, Mamdani charged his opponents and Mayor Eric Adams, who ultimately suspended his re-election campaign after staying out of the Democratic primary to run as an independent, with Islamophobia for a slew of comments made about him on the campaign trail.

Mamdani also faced criticism for his past comments about the New York City Police Department, including those comparing the NYPD to the Israel Defense Forces and calling the NYPD «racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety» in 2020, among other insults.

«I’ll apologize to police officers right here, because this is the apology that I’ve been sharing with many rank-and-file officers, and I apologize because of the fact that I’m looking to work with these officers, and I know that these officers, these men and women who serve in the NYPD, they put their lives on the line every single day,» Mamdani said on Fox News.

As New York City voters began heading to the polls for early voting, billionaires, including Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman, urged Sliwa to drop out of the race to consolidate support for Cuomo, but the Republican nominee refused to suspend his campaign.

Similar pressure mounted after the primary for either Cuomo or Adams to drop out to boost the anti-Mamdani vote. After Adams suspended his campaign, he ultimately endorsed Cuomo. Trump’s Justice Department dropped bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy charges against Adams earlier this year.

Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa is interviewed by Fox News Digital, in New York City on Aug. 18, 2025. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Mamdani will also be the first millennial mayor of the nation’s largest city.

Such was clear from the early days of Mamdani’s campaign, as he made strategic use of social media, including TikTok, to build a recognizable brand and motivate a swath of low-propensity voters.

His campaign played into the hands of an evolving – and chronically online – New York City electorate.

Scrolling through Mamdani’s social media, his TikTok and Instagram pages resemble that of a New York City influencer. From the film-like filters and consistent fonts on his vertical videos to the cameos from celebrities, including model Emily Ratajkowski and comedian Bowen Yang, Mamdani’s videos regularly amass millions of views.

During the general election, Mamdani’s campaign began collaborating with content creators, inviting New York City’s micro-influencers to a «New Media» briefing, which are typically reserved for mainstream media, and continuing to walk through the revolving door of podcast appearances, akin to such efforts by the Trump administration in 2024.

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Like Trump in 2024, Mamdani centered his mayoral campaign on affordability, vowing to deliver a New York City that voters could actually afford to live in.

Mamdani told Fox News in the final days of his campaign that he learned of a woman wearing a «MAGA for Zohran» hat at his Queens rally, eliciting Trump’s renowned «Make America Great Again» slogan.

«It tells me that no matter what your politics are, you’re feeling the same crisis, and this is a movement that looks to address that crisis» of affordability, Mamdani said. «No matter who you are, no matter where you live.»

La presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum, fue acosada este miércoles mientras recorría las calles del centro histórico de la Ciudad de México por un hombre que no fue identificado. El momento quedó registrado en un video, donde se ve que su escolta de seguridad no la estaba acompañando en ese momento.

Según indicaron medios locales, todo ocurrió durante el traslado de la mandataria a la Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) en el Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México. Sheinbaum frenó en la calle para dialogar con algunos vecinos frente a las cámaras de televisión cuando un hombre se le acercó por detrás y le pasó un brazo sobre los hombros.

Mientras lo hacía, el hombre intentó darle un beso, pero el movimiento de la presidenta mexicana se lo impidió. Sin embargo, el sujeto continuó con sus actos y comenzó a recorrer con sus manos el cuerpo de la mandataria.

«Ey, ey, ey, ey», se escucha quejarse a Sheinbaum mientras se saca al hombre de encima. En ese momento, una de las personas que estaba grabando con un celular -y que presuntamente sería el titular de la Dirección General de Ayudantía, Juan José Ramírez Mendoza-, se mete y aparta al hombre, que insiste en su intento de abrazarla.

Marcando distancia, la mandataria le responde «nos tomamos la foto, no te preocupes». El hombre, en aparente estado de ebriedad, murmura algunas palabras que no se llegan a entender. El video concluye en ese momento y, según se indicó, esta persona no fue identificada.

Horas más tarde, se difundió en redes otro video que muestra el momento en el que, luego del ataque, la presidenta mexicana se toma igualmente una foto con su agresor. Quien sostiene el celular a modo de cámara parece ser justamente uno de los hombres que la habían defendido anteriormente.

Es la misma persona que, tras ese incómodo momento y con la foto ya capturada, se interpone entre la mandataria y el hombre que la había acosado, dejándolo atrás. Sheinbaum, mientras tanto, continuó retratándose junto a vecinos del lugar.

Según indicó la prensa mexicana, el ataque ocurrió sobre la calle República de Argentina, en el Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México. Hasta el momento, las autoridades mexicanas no se expresaron al respecto.

Claudia Sheinbaum anunció más temprano, este mismo martes, una “estrategia integral” para el estado de Michoacán, en el oeste de México, en donde en los últimos días se registraron protestas que incluyeron la toma del palacio de Gobierno de Urupán, luego del asesinato del alcalde local Carlos Manzo Rodríguez, ocurrido el domingo pasado.

Fue en ese contexto que la mandataria presentó en su conferencia matutina el “Plan Michoacán por la Paz y la Justicia” con el que, según explicó, se impulsará un “reforzamiento de seguridad” bajo un “esquema integral” que incluirá la atención de las causas de la violencia.

Durante su exposición, Sheinbaum informó que se enviarán nuevos contingentes de la Guardia Nacional y agentes de la Secretaría de Seguridad federal para apoyar a la policía de Michoacán, aunque no dio cifras.

Según cifras oficiales, en septiembre Michoacán había ocupado el séptimo lugar en el número de homicidios de México, al acumular 1.024 casos en los primeros nueve meses del año.

Las autoridades estatales aseguran que en el primer semestre de este año disminuyeron 17% los homicidios en Michoacán, en comparación con el mismo período del 2024. Sin embargo, los recientes asesinatos de los alcaldes de Tepalcatepec y Tacámbaro, Martha Laura Mendoza y Salvador Bastidas; del periodista Mauricio Cruz Solís y del líder de los productores de limón de Apatzingán, Bernardo Bravo, continúan despertando preocupación.

Entre 2022 y 2024 también habían sido baleados otros cuatro alcaldes en Michoacán: Yolanda Sánchez en el municipio Cotija; Guillermo Torres en la localidad de Churumuco; César Valencia en el municipio Aguililla, y Enrique Velázquez en el municipio Contepec.

The body of the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, a 19-year-old dual U.S.–Israeli citizen, has been returned from Gaza for burial, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday. Seven more hostages’ bodies remain in Gaza.

«Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family that Itay had been returned for burial,» the military said.

Chen served as a combat soldier in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade. He was killed on the morning of October 7, 2023, while fighting near Kibbutz Nahal Oz—one of the hardest-hit communities in Hamas’s brutal attack. Chen’s tank was struck during the battle, and his body was taken into Gaza. His death was officially confirmed on March 10, 2024.

BODY OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE WHO WAS HELD FOR NEARLY 700 DAYS IN GAZA IS RECOVERED

Itay was the middle of three brothers. He grew up in Netanya, a city in central Israel, studied in an advanced academic program, and was known for his warmth, humor, and dedication. He loved basketball, hiking, and rock climbing, and before joining the army worked as a camp counselor. Even after sustaining an injury at camp, he insisted on finishing the summer to set an example for the kids he led. Later he enlisted as an armored-corps soldier, driven by a deep sense of duty to protect others. He leaves behind his parents, Ruby and Hagit, and his brothers Roi and Alon.

Over the past year, his parents led an unrelenting campaign to bring their son home. They met with senior officials in Israel and Washington, including President Trump, advocating for the return of all hostages and the remains of the fallen.

Ruby Chen addressed the U.N. Security Council, calling for more action to bring the hostages home from Gaza. Ruby’s son Itay is still being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. (Bianca Otero)

«The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Chen family and all the families of the fallen hostages,» the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. «We will not compromise and will spare no effort until every hostage is brought home. May his memory be blessed.»

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Itay Chen, 19-year-old U.S.-Israeli citizen, was on active duty in a tank unit on Oct. 7, 2023.   (Hostage Family Forum)

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, «The return of Itay brings a measure of relief to a family that lived in agonizing uncertainty for more than two years. We will not rest until the last hostage is returned.»

Chen’s funeral will take place this week with full military honors.