Zohran Mamdani, 34, won New York City’s election for mayor on Nov. 5. The BBC reported that this win makes Mamdani the youngest person in over a century to lead the largest city in the United States.
Mamdani entered the race as a largely unknown candidate to most New York City residents, according to PBS. His victory brought the defeat of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Now, Mamdani will need to bring all of his — some say unrealistic — campaign promises to life while attempting to navigate the inevitable demands of the city that never sleeps.
As reported by CNN, Mamdani was born on Oct. 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda. He was born to Indian parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani. The family moved to New York when Mamdani was seven. While he grew up as a graduate of the NYC Public School System, he attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Africana Studies in 2014.
Mamdani is currently married to Rama Duwaji. ABC News wrote that the couple actually tied the knot in February of this year at the City Clerk’s office in New York City. An interview with Mamdani on The Bulwark Podcast reveals that he met his wife on the popular dating app, Hinge.
The city mayor-elect proudly labels himself as a democratic socialist. According to NBC, some of his main campaign focuses include raising taxes on the wealthy, providing free bus services, offering universal child care, and his most highlighted initiative — a freeze on rent increases for the city’s one million rent-regulated apartments. Mamdani believes that the government should play a role in reducing economic disparity, and he says he doesn’t advocate for a communist system where property is collectively owned.
Mamdani’s campaign drew significant national attention, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who, in the days leading up to the vote, threatened to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani won. The president calls Mamdani a communist, but the now mayor-elect rejects that label. In overnight projections, Mamdani secured 50.3% of the vote compared with Cuomo’s 41.6%.
After the win, Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, criticized the “consequences” of New York City’s choice on X, writing, “Zohran Mamdani’s election cements the Democrat Party’s transformation to a radical, big-government socialist party.” Trump also posted to his socials, blaming the government shutdown for the Republican losses Tuesday night.
despite the hate
Amidst the criticism Mamdani has received about his political association and ethnicity, his win brings much pride to the country of India. ABC News reported that “Indians lit up social media” the following Wednesday to celebrate Mamdani’s win, especially after he thanked his Indian-born parents and quoted a historic speech by India’s first prime minister in his victory rally, which later turned into a Bollywood-style street party.
The new mayor-elect is set to take office Jan. 1, 2026. When Mamdani took the stage after winning the election, he affirmed his socialist political views by opening his speech with a quote from Eugene Debs, a socialist politician who famously ran for president five times in the early 1900s.
“I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity,” Mamdani said as he promised to improve conditions for New York City’s workers. Many of Mamdani’s supporters, who gathered in Brooklyn, said they were moved with optimism and hope that Mamdani can improve their lives.
A 32-year-old NYC voter, Dania Darwish, told NPR that she voted with her parents, as it is a tradition of theirs. “My mom was crying the entire way to the voting station,” Darwish told NPR. “It was very emotional for all of us to see a candidate on the ballot who represents us.”
THE CITY’S FUTURE
When Mamdani takes office next year, he plans to freeze rent for four years in the country’s most populous city. As the BBC states, Mamdani likes the idea of creating a network of city-owned grocery stores across New York’s five boroughs, expanding on the six city-owned stores. This would make shopping more affordable for customers. Mamdani also wants to make public buses free — which currently has a fare of $2.90 for most riders — with faster rides. His agenda also aims to lower the cost of childcare.
Mamdani seems to have much planned, but only time will tell what effect Mamdani will have on the “greatest city in the world.” For now, his voters are hopeful that he can bring his promises to life.