New Delhi: Zohran Mamdani has received the mayoral race in New York Metropolis. At 34, he’ll grow to be the youngest mayor in over a century and the primary Muslim and South Asian to carry the place.
Supporters erupted in celebration as his victory was confirmed, shouting his identify, Zohran, again and again whereas hugging and congratulating one another with pleasure.
The primary contest for mayor was between Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, who, after dropping the Democratic major to Mamdani, ran as an unbiased candidate. Republican Curtis Sliwa was additionally within the race.
Sliwa conceded defeat and congratulated Mamdani, saying, “Now, we now have an elected mayor. I want him effectively. If he does effectively, all of us do effectively.”
Mamdani’s Victory Speech
Mamdani celebrated together with his marketing campaign staff and thanked his mother and father and spouse from the stage. He started his victory speech by invoking former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He drew inspiration from the historic “Tryst with Future” speech of first Indian prime minister, delivered on the eve of India’s independence in 1947.
“Standing earlier than you, I consider the phrases of Jawaharlal Nehru. A second comes however not often in historical past, after we step out from the outdated to the brand new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation lengthy suppressed finds utterance. Tonight, we now have stepped out from the outdated into the brand new,” Mamdani mentioned, echoing Nehru’s phrases.
He declared, “Pals, we now have uprooted a political dynasty.” Addressing his opponent, he mentioned, “I want Andrew Cuomo solely private well-being. Tonight is the final time I point out him.”
He mentioned voters had chosen change, signalling hope for higher dwelling circumstances within the metropolis. Talking about his mother and father, he mentioned, “I’m who I’m due to you. I’m proud to be your son.”
To his spouse Rama Duvaji, he mentioned, “On this second and each second, I need solely you by my facet.”
In a half-hour speech, he additionally criticized President Donald Trump, who had urged voters to not help him. Mamdani promised to meet all marketing campaign commitments, together with free bus service, common childcare and measures to manage rising dwelling prices.
Who Is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born in 1991 in Kampala, Uganda. His center identify “Kwame” honours the Ghanaian revolutionary and first Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah.
He’s the son of famend Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia College Professor Mahmood Mamdani.
Mamdani spent his early years in Kampala earlier than shifting to South Africa at age 5. His father taught on the College of Cape City. Mamdani attended the historic St. George’s Grammar College in Cape City and later moved to New York at age seven, learning at Bronx Excessive College of Science.
He graduated in 2014 from Bard Faculty with a level in African Research. He grew to become a US citizen in 2018.
Mamdani’s Political Journey
Earlier than getting into politics, Mamdani labored as a social activist. In Queens, New York, he served as a foreclosures counsellor, serving to low-income households vulnerable to dropping their houses.
Witnessing the struggles of those households, he realised that coverage points, not simply monetary issues, had been holding them again. This impressed him to enter politics to vary legal guidelines affecting on a regular basis folks.
In 2020, he contested his first election from New York State Meeting’s thirty sixth District in Astoria, Queens, on the Democratic Socialists of America ticket. He received and have become the primary South Asian and first socialist consultant within the Meeting.
Within the Democratic mayoral major, he stunned many by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was making an attempt a political comeback after resigning in 2021 due to sexual harassment allegations.
After his win, Mamdani mentioned, “Tonight we made historical past. As Nelson Mandela mentioned, ‘It at all times appears unimaginable till it’s performed.’ Pals, we did it. As your Democratic nominee, I’ll function mayor of New York Metropolis.”
Controversies And Criticism
Mamdani has beforehand criticised Israeli insurance policies and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Might 2025, he refused to attend a hypothetical press occasion with Modi, citing the 2002 Gujarat riots and evaluating Modi to Benjamin Netanyahu as a “conflict felony”.
His feedback drew backlash from some Indo-American communities, though the Supreme Court docket of India cleared Modi of all prices in June 2022, accepting a particular investigation report.
Mamdani has additionally expressed help for Palestinian rights and distanced himself from Israel’s insurance policies, calling for equality and condemning any system that divides residents by faith.
Assaults On Muslim Id
After his major win, he confronted assaults on his Muslim identification. Republican Congressman Andy Ogles wrote to the Justice Division, demanding Mamdani’s citizenship be revoked.
He addressed these Islamophobic assaults, sharing threats he obtained throughout his marketing campaign. He informed MSNBC, “This occurs frequently, based mostly on my identify and religion. It is extremely tough. My victory reveals that being a Muslim is identical as being a part of another faith.”
Even throughout Eid, Republican Consultant Nancy Mace shared an image of Mamdani in conventional apparel with a remark recalling 9/11, highlighting persistent scrutiny.
Mamdani was 9 years outdated when 9/11 occurred and was dwelling in Manhattan on the time.