Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who narrowly won New York City’s mayoral race this week, will face steep challenges when he takes office on Jan. 1, 2026, political strategists told the Daily Caller News Foundation.Mamdani captured 50.4% of the vote Tuesday, edging out former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent and finished with 41.6%. The tight margin fell well below pre-election polls that showed Mamdani with leads of up to 25 points, The Daily Caller After the race was called, Mamdani delivered a fiery victory speech at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater that took aim at both Cuomo and President Donald Trump. The tone, political observers said, raised questions about his leadership style before he even begins his term.