Fact Check: "Mamdani received more votes than Adams did in 2021."
What We Know
The claim that "Mamdani received more votes than Adams did in 2021" is misleading. In the 2021 New York City mayoral election, Eric Adams won with approximately 51% of the vote in the general election against Curtis Sliwa, while Mamdani did not run in that election. Instead, Mamdani participated in the 2025 Democratic primary against Andrew Cuomo, where he led in the first round with 44% of the votes compared to Cuomo's 36% (Washington Post).
In the 2021 election, Adams received a total of 759,000 votes, while Mamdani's performance in the primary does not equate to a direct comparison with Adams' general election results (New York Times). Therefore, it is factually incorrect to state that Mamdani received more votes than Adams did in 2021.
Analysis
The assertion that Mamdani received more votes than Adams is fundamentally flawed as it conflates different electoral contexts. Eric Adams was the Democratic nominee in the 2021 general election, where he secured a significant victory. In contrast, Mamdani's notable performance occurred during the 2025 Democratic primary, where he garnered 44% of the vote against Cuomo, who had previously served as governor (Washington Post).
Mamdani's success in the primary was attributed to a surge in turnout among younger and more diverse voters, which was a strategic focus of his campaign (NBC News). However, this does not translate into a comparison with Adams' performance in the 2021 election, as they were not competing against each other in the same electoral context.
Furthermore, the sources discussing Mamdani's primary performance emphasize his ability to mobilize previously disengaged voters, which is a different dynamic from the general election where Adams was able to secure a broader coalition (Washington Post, The Guardian).
Thus, while Mamdani's performance in the primary is commendable and indicative of changing voter dynamics, it does not substantiate the claim that he received more votes than Adams did in 2021.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Mamdani received more votes than Adams did in 2021" is inaccurate. Mamdani did not compete against Adams in the 2021 election; instead, he participated in the 2025 Democratic primary, where he led against Andrew Cuomo. Eric Adams won the 2021 general election with a substantial vote count that cannot be directly compared to Mamdani's primary results.
