New Yorkers have elected Bill de Blasio as the city's 109th mayor.
On Tuesday, November 5, de Blasio became the first Democrat in the last two decades to be elected to lead New York in a landslide victory, crushing opponent Joe Lhota.
"Tackling inequality isn't easy. It never has been, and it never will be," said de Blasio in a victory speech at the YMCA gymnasium in his Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. "The challenges we face have been decades in the making, and the problems we set out to address will not be solved overnight. But make no mistake: The people of this city have chosen a progressive path. And tonight we set forth on it - together, as one city."
52-year old de Blasio, the city's public advocate, emerged victorious in the mayor's race by an easy margin, trouncing Republican Lhota, the former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, by 73 percent to 24 percent.
"He walks into a new experiment," said Hank Sheinkopf, a New York Democratic strategist. "How does a mayor bridge the income gap? It's a very difficult set of circumstances. The president hasn't been able to do it. The governors haven't been able to do it."
The Democrat greeted the crowd in English, Spanish and Italian post victory at the party in Park Slope where his children danced on stage.
"My fellow New Yorkers, today, you spoke out loudly and clearly for a new direction for our city," said de Blasio. "Make no mistake: The people of this city have chosen a progressive path, and tonight we set forth on it, together."
59-year old Lhota, widely considered the underdog, conceded after the polls closed and told supporters that the campaign has "been long" and "difficult."
"Our fellow New Yorkers have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," said Lhota. I wish the outcome had been different,"
He also added that de Blasio's "success commands my respect."
de Blasio will end the 20-year old hiatus of Democrats from the City Hall, becoming the first mayor from the party in a generation.
