An evangelist for a massive publicly owned renewable energy build-out is poised to lead the nation’s largest city — one that’s heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist who’s on track to win New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, focused much of his campaign on affordability issues like providing free buses, freezing rents and creating city-run grocery stores. But he has a history of advocacy on climate issues as well.
“I’m running for mayor to make the city more affordable and to take on the existential crisis of our time — climate change,” Mamdani said during a March candidate forum on climate.
His prime rival in the primary, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, conceded defeat Tuesday night, but results of the ranked-choice election aren’t expected to be finalized until July 1.
