Bill De Blasio Wins New York Mayor Race By Hannah Thomas Peter, New York Correspondent Bill de Blasio has won the New York mayoral elections, becoming the first Democrat to be handed the keys to City Hall since 1989. With an opinion poll lead of around 40 percentage points among likely voters ahead of election day, Mr de Blasio's victory was largely expected. The former Hillary Clinton senate campaign manager ran on a promise to narrow the widening wealth gap in New York. He says he will to raise taxes on the rich, improve relations between the NYPD and minority communities, and lower the mandatory age for schooling. In his victory speech, delivered in English and Spanish, he declared that "our city shall leave no New Yorker behind." Speaking to Sky News on the campaign trail last Thursday, the father of two and former city official said that he wanted to "make the city fairer for everyone." His Republican rival and former deputy mayor Joe Lhota argued that a Mayor de Blasio would mean a return to the days of high crime and economic decline, but he failed to convince voters. At a polling station just off Times Square, voters told Sky News they were looking forward to a change after 12 years of independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Community activist Kathleen Cromwell said: "Bloomberg did a lot of great things for this city, I'll give him that. But he ran this city like a corporation... it's not a business. If you look at de Blasio, he's the antithesis of that. Jordanna Olarte said: "I like his stance on working for working families. I come from a multi-racial household so that also plays a part in me identifying with him and his family values. One man who didn't want to be identified said: "He is an honest guy, he talks the truth you know. There are a lot of things going on in this city that shouldn't be. He is the guy to fix it. Bill de Blasio will take office at the start of the new year.