Zohran Mamdani scripted history by becoming New York’s youngest mayor in over a century - and the first Muslim and South Asian ever to hold the office. Mamdani, the democratic socialist, clinched victory with 50.4 per cent of the vote, according to the Associated Press, which declared him mayor-elect after 91 per cent of the votes were counted.
Mamdani won with 1,036,051 votes to defeat Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo, who had 854,995 votes (41.6 per cent), and Republican Curtis Sliwa, who trailed behind with 146,137 votes, 7.1 per cent.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda. He is the son of acclaimed Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University. His life took a new turn when he moved to New York City at the age of seven. After becoming a US citizen, Mamdani pursued his education and soon stepped into the world of community activism and progressive politics-a space wherein he found purpose and power. Zohran grew up in a multicultural home steeped in art, politics, and social awareness. Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist, in a simple courthouse ceremony earlier this year at the city clerk's office in Lower Manhattan. They had been engaged since October 2024.
Political rise in Queens
Mamdani, as a political newcomer, was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 to represent a district in Queens. During his tenure, he focused on grassroots issues - from housing affordability to public transportation - and was instrumental in launching a pilot programme that made select city bus routes free for a year, the report further states. It was a success that set him up to run for mayor on the promise of a more equitable city.
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As a mayoral candidate, Mamdani ran on an audacious platform- free childcare, rent freezes for tenants in rent-regulated apartments, new affordable housing projects, free buses citywide, and higher taxes on the wealthy. The report also says his campaign drew widespread support from young voters and working-class communities, reflecting a broader shift toward progressive politics in the city.
