Who is Zohran Mamdani, NYC's Democratic mayoral nominee
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State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24 in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Zohran Mamdani's mayoral primary win on Tuesday night sets him up to potentially become New York City's first Muslim mayor and one of its youngest.
Why it matters: The 33-year-old progressive candidate ran on a platform to make New York City more affordable, an extension of his priority as a member of the state legislature.
Catch up quick: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the other Democratic frontrunner, conceded the race to Mamdani on Tuesday night before the vote count ended.
- While Mamdani was not the most experienced candidate on the ballot, he electrified a voter base hungry for change.
By the numbers: Mamdani's campaign was fueled by individual donors and volunteers.
- He received over $1.7 million in campaign donations from more than 20,000 individuals.
- Cuomo, backed by larger donors, received more than $4 million from about 5,700 people.
What's next: The general election is on Nov. 4.
- Mamdani will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, lawyer Jim Walden —both Adams and Walden are running as independent candidates — and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a crime prevention nonprofit.
- Cuomo has also said he would consider transitioning to run as an independent candidate, but he told the New York Times on Wednesday that he wants "to analyze and talk to some colleagues" before making a decision.
Read more about Mamdani below:
Background
State of play: Mamdani was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, to an Indian-Ugandan academic father and Indian filmmaker mother.
- When he was 7 years old, he and his family moved to New York City, where he eventually attended the Bronx High School of Science.
Zoom in: He received a bachelor's degree in Africana studies from Bowdoin College.
- In 2018, he became a naturalized American citizen.
- Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, an artist and illustrator originally from Damascus, Syria.
Behind the scenes: Mamdani has credited his political activism to the act of organizing.
- He co-founded Bowdoin's first Students for Justice in Palestine chapter and spent time organizing with progressive organizations focused on national elections and health care, according to his New York State Assembly biography.
- "As life took its inevitable turns, with detours in film, rap, and writing, it was always organizing that ensured that the events of our world would not lead him to despair, but to action," the biography said.
Career
Driving the news: Mamdani has been a New York State Assembly member since 2021. He represents the Queens neighborhoods of Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights.
- He is the first South Asian man, the first Ugandan and the third Muslim to serve in the state legislature.
Zoom out: Before becoming a state lawmaker, he worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor, helping low-income homeowners of color across Queens to avoid eviction and stay in their homes.
- "It was this job that led him to run for office," his biography reads. "After having spent every day negotiating with banks that valued profits over people, he came face-to-face with the reality that this housing crisis — one which predated this pandemic — was not natural to our lives, but instead a choice."
Policy and stances
The intrigue: Mamdani has introduced more than 20 bills in Albany, and three have become law, multiple outlets reported.
- Mamdani is part of the Democratic Socialists of America's New York chapter. He's largely championed housing and transportation reform while in office.
What we're watching: Central to Mamdani's campaign were promises to freeze rent for stabilized apartments and make buses free.
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