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Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor marks a remarkable ascent for the progressive legislator who rose from relative obscurity to lead a dynamic campaign for the city’s top position. Since his surprising victory in the Democratic primary in June, New Yorkers have become accustomed to seeing his bearded, cheerful face on TV— and supporters proudly sporting badges bearing his image.
Born in Uganda to an Indian family, Mamdani has lived in the U.S. since he was seven years old and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair (“Monsoon Wedding,” “Mississippi Masala”) and Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent professor and Africa scholar, which has led some critics to label him a “nepo baby.”
His academic path included attending the prestigious Bronx High School of Science and then Bowdoin College in Maine, known for its liberal-minded community. In 2015, he adopted the stage name “Young Cardamom” and delved into rap, influenced by the group Das Racist, which featured Indian-origin members and played with regional references and tropes. His music career was brief; he regards himself as a second-rate artist and eventually shifted his focus to politics.
Mamdani’s interest in activism was sparked when he learned that rapper Himanshu Suri—known as Heems—supported a city council candidate. This led Mamdani to join that campaign as an activist. He later became a foreclosure counselor, helping homeowners in financial distress avoid losing their homes.
In 2018, he was elected to represent Queens in the New York State Assembly, a borough known for its diverse, often low-income, immigrant communities. As a self-described socialist, he has been re-elected three times, emphasizing policies aimed at making the city affordable for all residents—most notably, the majority of its 8.5 million people. His commitments include expanding rent control, offering free daycare and transportation, and establishing city-operated neighborhood groceries.
A long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, Mamdani has publicly condemned the Israeli government’s policies as an “apartheid regime” and labeled the conflict in Gaza a “genocide,” which has attracted criticism from some Jewish groups. Recently, he has vocally denounced antisemitism and Islamophobia, also sharing his own experiences with discrimination.
During the election period, opponents like former President Donald Trump labeled him a “little communist” and falsely accused him of being a “Jew hater” as voters headed to the polls. According to Northeastern University political professor Costas Panagopoulos, Mamdani is considered an “outsider” in establishment circles, but one who energizes disillusioned voters and those feeling ignored by the political system.
Mamdani, an avid soccer and cricket fan, recently married U.S. illustrator Rama Duwaji. His campaign approach combines traditional grassroots canvassing and amusing social media outreach, blending the strategies of decades past with modern digital campaigning, according to Columbia professor Lincoln Mitchell.
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