From Uganda to City Hall: The story of Zohran Mamdani, New York’s new mayor

Zohran Mamdani, 34, who until recently was little known outside New York’s local politics, defeated former state governor Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday’s election for mayor of the largest city in the United States.

Mamdani’s victory — which had been projected by the Associated Press — marked the culmination of a grassroots campaign that mobilized an unprecedented number of voters, energized an army of volunteers from across communities and neighborhoods, and drew international attention to the mayoral race.

A sitting state assemblyman, Mamdani will now become New York City’s first Muslim mayor of Indian descent.

In June, he defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment scandals, stayed in the race as an independent candidate after losing the primary.

Since then, Mamdani has tirelessly focused on door-to-door outreach, multilingual advertising, and community organizing.

Political analysts say Mamdani’s victory offers broader lessons for the Democratic Party, still reeling from its losses in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections.

So, who is Zahran Mamdani? What were his campaign promises, how did he defy poll predictions to win the Democratic primary, and what are his views on Gaza — a defining issue in this year’s race?

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Qawam Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is the son of Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.

Born in Kampala, Uganda, he moved to New York at age seven. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine, and before entering politics, worked as a housing counselor helping low-income families avoid eviction.

In 2020, he was elected to the New York State Assembly representing District 36, which includes Astoria, Queens.

In early 2025, Mamdani married Rama Dwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian-born artist living in Brooklyn, whose work has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE, and who also works in animation.

Mamdani’s views on Gaza

Mamdani has been among the most outspoken elected U.S. officials criticizing Israel’s war on Gaza. On October 31, 2024, he wrote on X:

“I will always speak in my own words and based on facts — Israel is committing genocide.”

He is also a strong supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which he has described as part of his “core principle of nonviolence” during a public event in Manhattan earlier this month.

One of the most striking moments of his campaign came during a December 2024 interview, when asked what he would do if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited New York. Mamdani replied bluntly:

“As mayor, if Netanyahu comes to New York, I will have him arrested.”

He also refused to distance himself from the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which many Jewish leaders and conservative commentators have labeled inflammatory or antisemitic.

Cuomo’s campaign repeatedly targeted Mamdani’s Muslim identity and pro-Palestinian stance, accusing him of antisemitism.

New York City — home to the United Nations headquarters — also hosts the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel.

In a June 2025 interview, Mamdani addressed threats of Islamophobia he had received, saying: “There is no place for antisemitism in this city or this country.”

He has consistently emphasized that his criticism is directed at the policies of U.S. administrations and the Israeli cabinet — not at Jewish people.

Mamdani’s campaign was powered by more than 22,000 grassroots volunteers and backed by progressive figures including Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Working Families Party.

Mamdani: The anti-Trump figure

Mamdani has long positioned himself as one of Donald Trump’s vocal critics, frequently challenging the president’s policies.

On election day, Trump attacked Jewish supporters of Mamdani, calling them “fools” in what was seen as a last-ditch effort to influence turnout.

He wrote on X: “Any Jewish person who votes for Zahran Mamdani — a proven, self-declared antisemite — is a fool.”

Trump had previously threatened to cut federal funding for New York City if Mamdani were elected mayor.

In his victory speech, Mamdani took direct aim at Trump:

“If there’s one city that can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it’s the city that made him.”

He added: “We will end the culture of corruption that allows billionaires like Trump to evade taxes and exploit tax loopholes.”

Turning again to Trump, Mamdani declared: “New York will always be a city for immigrants — a city built by immigrants, sustained by immigrants, and today, led by one.”

How Mamdani got here

In June, Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary. In the first round of ranked-choice voting, he led by 13 points, securing over 573,000 votes citywide.

Since he didn’t win a majority in the first round, New York’s ranked-choice system came into play, with lower-ranked candidates eliminated and their supporters’ next preferences redistributed.

Two weeks after conceding the Democratic primary, Cuomo announced he would continue running for mayor on an independent line.

Cuomo, whose father Mario Cuomo also served as New York’s governor, ran a well-funded campaign that saturated airwaves, mailboxes, and social media across the city.

Cuomo and his supporters accused Mamdani of lacking the administrative experience needed to navigate New York’s complex bureaucracy or manage crises effectively.