NEW YORK (AP) — When he announced his run for mayor last October, Zohran Mamdani was a state lawmaker unknown to most New York City residents. But that changed dramatically after the 34-year-old democratic socialist shocked the national political scene with a stunning upset over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary.
On Tuesday, Mamdani completed his political ascension by once again defeating Cuomo, as well as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, in the general election. The former foreclosure prevention counselor and one-time rapper becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor born in Africa, and the first of South Asian heritage—not to mention the youngest mayor in more than a century.
“I will wake up each morning with a singular purpose: To make this city better for you than it was the day before,” Mamdani promised New Yorkers in his victory speech.
### Mamdani’s Progressive Promises for New York City
Mamdani ran on an optimistic vision for New York City, offering a campaign packed with ambitious policies aimed at lowering the cost of living for everyday residents. His proposals included free child care, free bus rides, a rent freeze for tenants in rent-regulated apartments, and new affordable housing—much of it funded by raising taxes on the wealthy.
Additionally, Mamdani proposed launching a pilot program for city-run grocery stores to combat high food prices.
Since his Democratic primary win, Mamdani has moderated some of his more polarizing rhetoric, particularly around law enforcement. He backed off a 2020 social media post calling to “defund” the New York Police Department (NYPD) and publicly apologized to NYPD officers for describing the department as “racist” in another post.
While Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he insists that he is running on his own distinct platform and does not embrace all of the activist group’s priorities, some of which include ending mandatory jail time for certain crimes and cutting police budgets.
### NYC’s First Muslim Mayor
Mamdani embraced his faith amid the anti-Muslim rhetoric that marked the campaign’s final weeks. Outside a Bronx mosque in late October, he spoke emotionally about the “indignities” long faced by the city’s Muslim population and vowed to fully embrace his identity.
“I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own,” he said. “But there is one thing that I will change. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”
### A Famous Filmmaker Mother and Academic Father
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani became an American citizen in 2018 shortly after graduating from college. He lived briefly with his family in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New York City at age 7.
His mother, Mira Nair, is an award-winning filmmaker known for works including *Monsoon Wedding*, *The Namesake*, and *Mississippi Masala*. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an anthropology professor at Columbia University.
Earlier this year, Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist. The couple—who met on the dating app Hinge—live in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.
### Once a Fledgling Rapper
Mamdani attended the Bronx High School of Science, where he co-founded the prestigious public school’s first cricket team, according to his legislative bio. He graduated in 2014 from Bowdoin College in Maine with a degree in Africana studies and co-founded the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
After college, he worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor in Queens, helping residents avoid eviction—a job he says inspired his run for public office.
Mamdani also had a notable side hustle in the local hip-hop scene, rapping under the monikers Young Cardamom and later Mr. Cardamom. During his first run for state lawmaker, he humorously described himself as a “B-list rapper.”
### Early Political Career
Mamdani began his political career by working on campaigns for Democratic candidates in Queens and Brooklyn. He was first elected to the New York Assembly in 2020, defeating a longtime Democratic incumbent in a Queens district covering Astoria and surrounding neighborhoods. Since then, he has been re-elected twice with ease.
One of the democratic socialist’s most notable legislative achievements has been pushing through a pilot program that made a handful of city buses free for a year. He has also proposed legislation banning nonprofits from “engaging in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity.”
Opponents, particularly Cuomo, dismissed Mamdani as unprepared to manage the complexities of running America’s largest city. But Mamdani framed his relative inexperience as an asset, saying in a mayoral debate that he was “proud” not to have Cuomo’s “experience of corruption, scandal and disgrace.”
### Viral Campaign Videos
Mamdani’s campaign benefited from buzzy videos, many featuring winking references to Bollywood and his Indian heritage, helping him connect with voters beyond his Queens base.
On New Year’s Day, he participated in the annual polar plunge into the chilly waters off Coney Island wearing a full dress suit to present his plan to “freeze” rents. He interviewed food cart vendors about “Halal-flation” and humorously promised to make the city’s beloved chicken over rice lunches “eight bucks again.”
On TikTok, he appealed to voters of color by speaking in Spanish, Bengali, and other languages. His viral clips were complemented by widely viewed television commercials aired during *The Golden Bachelor*, *Survivor*, and the Knicks’ season opener.
### Pro-Palestinian Views
A longtime supporter of Palestinian rights, Mamdani maintained a strong criticism of Israel throughout his campaign—a stance often seen as a political third rail in New York.
He accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and said Israel should exist as “a state with equal rights” for all, not solely as a “Jewish state.”
Mamdani faced strong criticism from opponents and many leaders in the Jewish community; Cuomo accused him of “fueling antisemitism.” Early in the race, Mamdani also drew backlash for initially refusing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada.” He later pledged to discourage others from using the phrase.
To court Jewish voters, Mamdani met with rabbis and attended a synagogue during the High Holy Days.
In his victory remarks on Tuesday, Mamdani pledged that under his leadership, City Hall will stand firmly against antisemitism.
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Follow Phil Marcelo on Twitter: @philmarcelo
https://ktar.com/national-news/zohran-mamdanis-rise-from-queens-lawmaker-to-new-york-city-mayor/5770690/