New York: Zohran Mamdani made history on Election Day, winning the high-stakes race for New York City Mayor and becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to lead America’s largest city.
The 34-year-old Democrat, who had long been the frontrunner, defeated Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo — the former New York Governor who received a last-minute endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mamdani had earlier stunned Cuomo by defeating him in the Democratic primary in June. His campaign focused on easing the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, gaining strong support among youth and labor groups struggling with rising prices and job insecurity.
With his victory, Mamdani ushers New York City — often seen as the “citadel of capitalism” — into a new political era, as a democratic socialist takes charge for the first time.
Of Indian descent, Mamdani is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he moved to New York at age seven and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.
An alumnus of the Bronx High School of Science and Bowdoin College, where he earned a degree in Africana Studies, Mamdani co-founded his high school’s first cricket team, which competed in the city’s inaugural Public School Athletic League season.
Before entering politics, he worked as a housing counselor in Queens, helping low-income homeowners fight foreclosures — an experience that shaped his political vision. Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, he represented the 36th District, covering Astoria and nearby neighborhoods.
As the first South Asian man, first Ugandan, and third Muslim ever to serve in the New York State Assembly, Mamdani pledged to amplify marginalized voices long excluded from policymaking.
As Mayor, Mamdani has vowed to tackle New York’s affordability crisis head-on. His plans include:
Freezing rent for all stabilized tenants and expanding affordable housing construction.
Fare-free buses citywide, with faster routes and priority lanes.
Free childcare for all children aged six weeks to five years.
City-owned grocery stores to curb soaring food prices and prioritize affordability over profit.
His campaign emphasized that these initiatives would be fully funded through a progressive fiscal approach designed to lower costs without compromising city services.
Despite questions about his limited experience in managing a city with a $100 billion budget, Mamdani has pointed to his track record — from leading a hunger strike with taxi drivers that secured $450 million in debt relief, to securing $100 million for subway expansion, and opposing environmentally harmful power projects.
“The cost of living is crushing working people,” Mamdani said. “But government can make life easier — by lowering rents, improving transit, and helping families thrive.”
His historic win marks not only a personal triumph but a generational shift in New York’s politics — one defined by grassroots energy, inclusivity, and a renewed focus on working-class priorities.
