Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist.
Image: Madison Stewart/Zohran Mamdani Website
New York City Democrats chose 33-year-old Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani as their mayoral candidate in a primary election held earlier this week, stunning his main opponent, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani led with 43% (432,305) of the vote with 93% of ballots counted, city officials reported.
"Tonight, we made history. We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford. A city where they can do more than just struggle," Mamdani said in his victory speech.
As the Democratic nominee, poised to become NYC's first Muslim and first Asian American mayor, he enters the general election as the frontrunner in a city that strongly leans Democratic.
Mamdani will now face Curtis Sliwa, the sole Republican candidate for mayor, as well as the current mayor, Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent alongside Jim Walden.
Here are some facts on the trailblazer..
Age: 33
Background: Born in Kampala, Uganda, he was primarily raised in Queens, New York but spent two years in Cape Town, South Africa. At age five, Mamdani moved with his family to Cape Town, South Africa, where he attended St. George's Grammar School while his father (Mahmood Mamdani) taught at the University of Cape Town. Two years later, the family relocated to New York City.
Education: Bronx High School of Science; Bowdoin College, with a degree in Africana Studies.
Career: Former housing counsellor; current New York State Assemblyman.
Political Platform: Mamdani's campaign centres on affordability and equity, proposing:
Free citywide bus service
Rent freezes and landlord accountability
Universal childcare
City-owned affordable grocery stores
Identity & Advocacy: A visible Muslim, Mamdani has embraced his multicultural background through multilingual outreach and cultural references. He's an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, having introduced legislation to challenge tax exemptions for charities tied to Israeli settlements.
Personal Life: Mamdani is married to Syrian artist Rama Duwaji.
Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed and prolific filmmaker known for trailblazing works such as Monsoon Wedding, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Mississippi Masala, The Namesake, and Vanity Fair.
His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a respected professor at Columbia University.