Zohran Mamdani Wins NYC Mayoral Race
“He’s Muslim, a democratic socialist, 34 years old, and the first South Asian man in the New York assembly,” said Juhi Bhora (10).
It’s November 5th, the day after the NYC mayoral election, and upon opening social media, users come across yet another video of the election and its winner, Zohran Mamdani. There are a couple of facts about him that have become common knowledge.
“Zohran Mamdani is a Ugandan-born New York State Assembly member elected in 2020, becoming the first South Asian man and one of the few Muslims to serve in the Assembly,” said Cindy Gu (10).
Although Mamdani is ethnically Indian, he was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to Cape Town, South Africa at the age of 5, before settling down in New York 2 years later. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, teaches Africana studies at Columbia University. Zohran’s mother, Mira Nair, is a famous filmmaker, and both of his parents are Harvard graduates. Mamdani is married to artist Rama Duwaji, whom he met on Hinge, an online dating app. He graduated from The Bronx High School of Science and, following his father’s footsteps, majored in Africana studies at Bowdoin College in 2014. Before entering politics, he was a housing counselor and rapper who went by the names of Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom. Since 2021, he has represented Astoria, Queens in the New York State Assembly.
Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist, meaning that he believes that the means of production should be owned and controlled by the public, rather than large corporations. Democratic Socialists also believe that things such as affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, education, public transit, etc., should be rights that are guaranteed to everyone, and they support these programs using taxpayer dollars. These beliefs are reflected in Zohran’s political platform, which focuses on the affordability of life in New York City. Zohran aims to lower the costs of housing via rent controls and to create city-owned grocery stores, free buses, free childcare, education, and baby baskets. He also advocates for a Department of Community Safety, levying higher taxes on the elite, protecting the LGBTQIA+, raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, and supporting small businesses and libraries. Additionally, Mamdani is very outspoken against President Trump’s policies, claiming that he will “Trump—proof” NYC.
A major argument of Zohran Mamdani’s critics is his criticism of Israel’s government and his assertion that there is a genocide in Gaza. This has earned him a lot of backlash, as many accuse him of antisemitism and supporting HAMAS, which is a Palestinian terrorist group. In response to this, Zohran says that he does not support antisemitism and that he definitely condemns HAMAS, and that his promises as the mayor of NYC apply to the more than 1.3 million Jews that live there as well.
Mamdani supports the BDS movement against Israel, which calls for a nonviolent boycott of Israel. BDS stands for boycott, divestment, and sanctions, and the movement uses these methods to pressure Israel into ceasing violent actions against Palestine. His support goes back to 2014, when he co-founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College, his alma mater. He says that Israel should exist as a state with equal rights for all, and that Israel practices apartheid.
Congressman Tom Suozzi stated in the Wall Street Journal that Mamdani won because his campaign focused on affordability, which is the major concern for most people. Democrats usually focus on issues such as abortion and LGBTQIA+ rights, which are important, but not most people’s priorities. This is why people don’t vote for Democratic candidates, as they feel their main issues are not being properly represented. By promising to make the cost of living more affordable, Zohran Mamdani appeals directly to the working class of New York. In this year’s election, almost 39% of registered voters in the city voted in the election, which is the highest turnout since 2001 when Michael Bloomberg won. This is how he was able to win the election even without major democratic endorsements. He was not given a formal endorsement from former president Obama, and was not supported by the Queens Democratic Party and other Democratic members of Congress. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat himself, does not support Mamdani.
Additionally, Mamdani had a large group of volunteers who went door to door to build up support for his candidacy. Although maybe not as major contributions to Mamdani’s success as his campaign platform, Mamdani’s social media presence and strong speaking ability played a part in his victory as well. Zohran Mamdani is very active on social media, constantly appearing in people’s videos, showcasing both his speaking abilities and charisma. Clips of his eloquent responses during the NYC Mayoral General Election Debate have also gone viral, boosting his popularity. In particular, Mamdani mentions the 13 sexual harassment claims against Andrew Cuomo, and the fact that Cuomo panders to the elite of NY by lowering their taxes and cutting spending for programs such as Medicaid.
Mamdani’s election will bring about a shift towards policies that focus on the working class of NYC. Although these policies may not be effective, as President Trump and others continue to push against the NYC mayor, Mamdani promises to increase the affordability of living in the city and decrease corporate power in the local government.