Who’s Zohran Mamdani, New York’s probably subsequent mayor? | Elections Information

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim of South Asian origin, shocked political observers in dealing a crushing defeat to heavyweight former Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, as he appeared poised to turn into the Democratic candidate for mayor of the US’ greatest metropolis.

If Mamdani, a state assemblyman, wins the mayoral election in November, he’ll turn into the primary Muslim, Indian-origin mayor in New York Metropolis’s historical past.

As vote counts poured in, Mamdani invoked Nelson Mandela as he tweeted early Wednesday morning: “It all the time appears inconceivable till it’s carried out. My mates, it’s carried out. And you’re the ones who did it. I’m honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York Metropolis.”

Cuomo, the previous governor of New York State, who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, addressed an occasion in Manhattan after calling Mamdani to congratulate him. “Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night time, and he put collectively a terrific marketing campaign,” he stated. “And he touched younger individuals, and impressed them, and moved them, and bought them to return out and vote. And he actually ran a extremely impactful marketing campaign.”

In Mamdani’s anticipated win, political analysts imagine there are bigger classes for the Democratic Social gathering, nonetheless grappling with its loss within the 2024 presidential and Congressional elections.

So who’s Zohran Mamdani? What had been his ballot guarantees, and the way did he upset ballot predictions to emerge the probably winner of the Democratic major? And what are his views on Gaza, a significant marketing campaign problem this 12 months?

What occurred within the Democratic major?

Within the first-choice spherical of ranked-choice voting within the New York Metropolis Democratic mayoral major on June 24, Mamdani led with 43.5 % of the vote, practically 432,000 votes, whereas Cuomo adopted with 36.4 %, or 361,800 votes.

Comptroller Brad Lander, one other progressive contender, got here in third with 11.3 %, and the remaining votes had been cut up amongst different minor candidates.

Since no candidate secured greater than 50 % of first-choice votes, New York’s ranked-choice system kicked in. Candidates with the fewest votes are eradicated in successive rounds, and their supporters’ second-choice preferences had been redistributed.

Mamdani reportedly picked up a big share of Lander’s voters and different progressives, pushing him on the trail to cross the bulk threshold. Whereas it may be days earlier than ultimate outcomes are declared, Mamdani’s win seems all however sure, as demonstrated by Cuomo’s concession.

Was Mamdani’s win anticipated?

Probably not. Within the weeks main as much as the Democratic mayoral major, most main polls projected Cuomo because the frontrunner, although they did present assist for Mamdani selecting up because the election drew nearer.

A Marist Ballot performed on June 18, simply six days earlier than the first, confirmed Cuomo main the pack with 38 % of first-choice votes. Mamdani trailed with 27 %. The ballot additionally simulated ranked-choice outcomes and forecast that Cuomo would finally attain a 55 % majority in later rounds, suggesting robust second- and third-choice assist amongst voters.

Equally, an earlier Emerson Faculty ballot from late Could confirmed Cuomo held 37 % of the first-choice vote, whereas Mamdani got here in at 17 %. A extra dated Siena/AARP ballot from April put Cuomo even additional forward, with 39 % of the vote in contrast with Mamdani’s 15 %.

Cuomo had title recognition that’s virtually unmatched in New York – his father, Mario Cuomo, was additionally a governor of the state. He had a well-funded marketing campaign that flooded airwaves and mailboxes throughout town.

However Mamdani’s grassroots marketing campaign – powered by volunteers, small-dollar donations, and powerful turnout amongst youthful voters – proved decisive. He focused working-class New Yorkers, significantly in Queens, Brooklyn, and elements of Manhattan.

Cuomo and different Democrats had criticised Mamdani as unfit for the NYC mayor’s workplace, arguing he lacked the executive expertise to navigate town’s complicated paperwork and handle crises successfully. On Tuesday, it turned clear that their pitch didn’t work.

Who’s Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and the son of Ugandan educational Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.

Born in Kampala, Mamdani moved to New York on the age of seven. He earned a Bachelor’s diploma in Africana Research from Bowdoin Faculty in Maine. Previous to getting into politics, he labored as a housing counselor, aiding low-income households in stopping evictions.

Within the 2020 New York State Meeting election, he was elected from the thirty sixth district, representing Astoria, Queens.

Early this 12 months, he married Rama Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian artist primarily based in Brooklyn. Her work has been featured in publications like The New Yorker, The Washington Submit, and VICE, and he or she additionally engages in animation and ceramics.

What are his views on the Gaza struggle?

Mamdani has been among the many most vocal American elected officers criticising Israel’s struggle on Gaza. In an October 31, 2024, submit on X, Mamdani acknowledged, “I’ll all the time be clear in my language and primarily based in details: Israel is committing a genocide.”

He has additionally been a robust supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) motion. At an occasion in Manhattan earlier this month, he linked that assist to “the core of my politics, which is non-violence”.

A headline second in his marketing campaign got here throughout a December 2024 interview with Mehdi Hasan, when he was requested what he would do if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited New York. Mamdani replied bluntly: “As mayor, I might have Netanyahu arrested if he got here to New York!”

“This can be a metropolis [where] our values are consistent with worldwide regulation. It’s time that our actions are additionally,” he instructed Hasan.

Mamdani additionally refused to distance himself from the slogan “Globalize the Intifada”, a phrase that many Jewish leaders and conservative commentators have criticised as inflammatory and accused of being anti-Semitic.

Responding to questions concerning the slogan, Mamdani stated on a June 2025 episode of The Bulwark podcast: “As a Muslim man who grew up submit‑9/11, I’m all too acquainted (with) the best way during which Arabic phrases may be twisted, may be distorted, can be utilized to justify any form of which means.” He added that the slogan was somewhat about solidarity with oppressed individuals globally – not a name to violence.

Cuomo’s marketing campaign additionally picked up on Mamdani’s Muslim identification and criticised his pro-Palestine stand, alleging he has engaged in anti-Semitism. New York, the place the United Nations has its headquarters, is residence to the most important Jewish group on this planet, outdoors Israel.

In a June 2025 interview, whereas addressing Islamophobic threats he had obtained, Mamdani stated: “There isn’t any room for anti-Semitism on this metropolis or nation.” He has repeatedly harassed that his critique is directed on the US and Israeli governments’ insurance policies, not at Jews.

Mamdani’s marketing campaign was pushed by greater than 22,000 grassroots volunteers and endorsements from progressive heavyweights like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Working Households Social gathering.

What are a few of his different key guarantees?

Mamdani’s marketing campaign for the New York Metropolis mayor place is centered on an bold and progressive coverage platform geared toward redistributing wealth, increasing public providers, and remodeling city life.

Considered one of his flagship proposals is to make all metropolis buses free by 2027. Mamdani has pointed to the success of pilot programmes the place fare-free buses led to increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers.

Housing is one other pillar of Mamdani’s platform, the place he proposes a lease freeze on all rent-stabilised flats and plans to ascertain a Social Housing Improvement Company that will construct publicly-owned, completely inexpensive housing. He has referred to as for stronger tenant protections and has proposed rolling again lease hikes in city-owned properties.

Mamdani has additionally proposed opening one municipally owned grocery retailer in every borough, the place communities underserved by industrial chains can entry inexpensive, wholesome meals choices. He has pledged to increase free school-meal programmes to incorporate metropolis faculties, and to supply common childcare and early teaching programs.

To pay for all of it, Mamdani has pitched main tax reforms: Elevating the company tax fee from 7.25 % to 11.5 %, and imposing a 2 % surcharge on people incomes greater than $1m per 12 months. In accordance with his marketing campaign, these measures may generate as much as $9.4bn yearly.

On public security, Mamdani proposed shifting sources away from the New York Police Division in direction of a brand new Division of Group Security, which might home psychological well being professionals, disaster responders and outreach employees.

What’s subsequent – and is Mamdani going to be the subsequent mayor?

The overall mayoral election for New York Metropolis will happen on November 4 this 12 months. Mamdani will face Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who beforehand misplaced the 2021 mayoral race by a large margin.

As soon as the first outcomes are formally introduced, Mamdani will turn into the Democratic Social gathering’s nominee for the November election. Given New York Metropolis’s overwhelming Democratic majority – Democrats outnumber Republicans by greater than 6 to 1 – he would be the agency favorite to turn into town’s subsequent mayor.

The final Republican to win a mayoral race in NYC was Michael Bloomberg in 2001, who received the race first as a Republican earlier than switching to Unbiased standing later in 2007 throughout his second time period.