President Donald Trump says Americans have a choice of "communism or common sense" after Democrat Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral election
Mamdani says he will stand up for New York against President Trump, and describes the start of a "new era" during his first press conference since winning the mayoral race
Mamdani, 34, becomes New York City's first Muslim mayor and youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the US - we cover his key policies here
Democrats are projected to win governor races in Virginia and New Jersey - here's how the night unfolded at a glance
Mamdani has sealed a remarkable victory, but real challenges lie ahead and his successes - and failures - will be closely scrutinised, writes Anthony Zurcher
Meanwhile, Californians vote to redraw the state's congressional districts to favour the Democratic Party ahead of elections next year
Moments after the New York City mayoral race was called for Mamdani by several outlets, former US President Barack Obama is congratulating "all Democratic candidates who won tonight".
"It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win," Obama wrote on X.
"We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter."
Image source, ReutersNew Jersey's new governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has just taken the stage in East Brunswick, New Jersey, to celebrate her victory.
"This was a tough fight and this is a tough state, but I know you, New Jersey and I love you," the Democrat US Representative says.
"I fought for you, I've spoken with thousands of you this past year. I know your struggles, I know your hopes, I know your dreams. So serving you is worth any tough fight I have to take on and I am incredibly honoured to be your next governor."
She cites the state motto of liberty and prosperity throughout her speech and takes aim at Trump "backing away" from that ideal by cutting SNAP benefits and "ripping away healthcare".
"We here in New Jersey, are bound to fight for a different future for our children," she says.
She also plans to hold government accountable, "balancing individual liberty with collective responsibility", ensuring people are safe, healthy, educated and free to pursue their dreams.
"I hear you, New Jersey, good government doesn't just manage problems, it solves them," she says.
Image source, ReutersMamdani's Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa is conceding the New York mayoral race.
"We have a mayor-elect," Sliwa told a group of supporters Tuesday night. "Obviously I wish him good luck, because if he does well, we do well."
"We have spent two years organising this movement. It's not just Republicans or Democrats or independents. It's animal lovers. It's people who've been disenfranchised, people who have been pushed to the side, whose voices have not been heard, the homeless, the emotionally disturbed, the veterans, the people who ride the subways," Sliwa says to cheers from the crowd.
"We've been with them, each and every day, and we will not surrender, we will not retreat, we will not leave this city of New York."
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says the "consequences" of New York City electing a "true extremist and Marxist" will be felt across the country.
"Zohran Mamdani’s election cements the Democrat Party's transformation to a radical, big-government socialist party," Johnson writes on X.
Johnson adds that every Democrat in the House will be to blame for "Mamdani’s disastrous record in the 2026 midterms".
"With exactly one year to go until the 2026 elections, the contrast between our parties has never been more clear."
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent
With voters in only a handful of states heading to the polls today, it’s hard to call any kind of result a electoral “wave”. But it is shaping up to be a very good night for Democrats.
The party’s candidates now have governor-race victories in New Jersey and Virginia. And in both contests, the candidates appear to have expanded on Democratic margins from the 2024 presidential contest.
Democrats are all but certain to improve their slim majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, giving incoming Governor Abigail Spanberger unified control of the state.
In Pennsylvania, Democrats have won the state’s three state Supreme Court races, maintaining their majority in that chamber.
Although Donald Trump was not on the ballot on Tuesday, he cast a shadow over all these contests. And the results will send a clear message that Democrats, a year after their stinging national defeat, can get back in the win column.
While it may not change Trump’s attitude in the days ahead, Republican officeholders – particularly those in Congress who will stand for re-election in next year’s congressional midterms – will surely take note.
Moment Mamdani victory announced at campaign watch party
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from Brooklyn
Image source, Madeline Halpert / BBCTracy Geng
Brooklyn residents at this watch party are rejoicing after Mamdani was declared the winner of the election.
Tracy Geng, who went to watch along at a local bar, says she was anxious about the results, but now the mood has changed.
"I can feel the energy, it’s palpable, everyone is excited," she says.
Geng says the election results show New York is ready for "radical change" and that residents don’t want to follow the direction of the Trump administration.
Liz H, who is also celebrating in the bar, says Mamdani "represents hope and what Democratic Party should be focusing on".
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 Sherrill 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.
For more stories from the US and around the world, follow BBC News US on WhatsApp.
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.