Zohran Mamdani’s upset win in last week’s Democratic primary election bears a look inside the numbers.
Throughout Assembly District 81 — Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, Norwood, Woodlawn and Wakefield — voters overwhelmingly agreed on their candidates, except for state Assemblyman Mamdani’s battle for mayor, which was primarily with former governor Andrew Cuomo, the favorite amongst establishment Democrats.
The Press took a closer look at three races: Bronx borough president, City Council District 11 and mayor. Data was compiled from neighborhoods in The Press’ coverage area — North Riverdale, Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Spuyten Duyvil and Marble Hill.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson won 71 percent of the vote against City Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr., who challenged her for the party nomination. Gibson’s strongest supporters were in Fieldston and Riverdale, averaging about 76 percent in both neighborhoods. This was followed by North Riverdale at 73 percent.
City Councilman Eric Dinowitz secured the party’s nod for his seat, averaging 74 percent of votes against his opponent, Danielle Herbert-Guggenheim. Dinowitz’s highest percentages were found in Riverdale, at 79 percent, and Spuyten Duyvil, at 75 percent.
Dinowitz, Gibson and Cuomo were endorsed by the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, a local political group that dates to 1960.
Michael Heller, former president and current committee member of the organization, said the campaign for Dinowitz involved door knocking, phone banks and postcarding.
“It was a strong street campaign and a strong mail campaign, but none of that matters unless you have a good, strong candidate you’re working with,” Heller said.
Heller said the club has worked closely with Gibson over the past four years. Despite Salamanca’s strong street campaign and literature, “the voters saw an incumbent borough president who uses the ability of her office,” he said, noting Gibson’s role in the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.
Regarding Cuomo, Heller said Ben Franklin members felt comfortable with the job Cuomo did as governor.
“There was a high level of competence on his part, that he could come in and take over a city government that needs work,” Heller said. “He was the right person at the right time that would have the strength to put up a fight against some of the terrible policies of [President Donald] Trump.”
Though Ben Franklin Club members are concerned with Mamdami’s policies, Heller said the organization will need to get to know him better in the coming months.
The Unity Democratic Club, another northwest Bronx-based political group, was nearly opposite from the Ben Franklin Club in its endorsements for the primaries — opting for Herbert-Guggenheim for City Council, Salamanca for borough president and City Comptroller Brad Lander for mayor.
Abigail Martin, a Democratic district leader and member of Unity, said the club chose Salamanca based on his progressive housing policies and concern for affordability in the Bronx. Members also believed he could be an ally to the club going forward.
Herbert-Guggenheim is a founding member of Unity, as well as a friend and ally since the organization began, Martin said.
Unity originally endorsed Lander as its first pick, and state Sen. Jessica Ramos as its second. But, when Ramos dropped out of the race, Mamdami became the club’s second choice.
Lander and Mamdami cross-endorsed each other in the primary.
“Mamdami’s victory is really historic,” Martin said, “and this is a decisive moment for the Democratic Party and for working people across New York. The voters … want a Democrat who will fight for housing justice, economic equity and the fundamental rights of all New Yorkers.”
Mamdani and Cuomo were within 10 to 15 percent of each other across focus neighborhoods. Cuomo found his highest percentages in Riverdale and Marble Hill, at about 49 percent of votes in each neighborhood. Mamdani saw success in Kingsbridge, with 48 percent of the votes.
Martin said, with the primary over, it’s time for city Democrats to get behind Mamdani.
“Now is the time for unity,” she said. “Divided, we lose. But united, we can deliver real progress for our city.”