Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic socialist, has launched a bid to become the next mayor of New York City, hoping to unseat political heavyweight and former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven and later became a US citizen. He is the son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor.
Mamdani first entered public office in 2020, representing Queens in the New York State Assembly. He is known for launching a pilot program that offers free bus service on select city routes.
His mayoral campaign focuses on making New York more affordable, a message that resonated with many young and progressive voters. His promises include free child care, expanded public transit access, a rent freeze for regulated units, major investments in affordable housing and increased taxes for the wealthy. Much of his campaign is being done through sharply produced social media content.
But critics argue that his proposals lack detail and would require significant cooperation from the state legislature and the governor. Some opponents have dismissed Mamdani’s political output as more style than substance, citing his relative inexperience. Even Mamdani acknowledged in a campaign video that a third of New Yorkers still don’t know who he is, a fact he frames as an opportunity for growth.
The candidate also made headlines by vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York, citing a 2024 arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court alleging war crimes in Gaza. The statement drew both support and criticism.
Mamdani’s challenge is clear: to broaden his appeal beyond progressive circles and reach out to moderate voters who often determine the outcome of citywide races. Still, he remains optimistic.
“When you talk to people about real issues — rent, transportation, childcare — you realize there’s a hunger for bold ideas,” he said in a recent interview. “We don’t have to follow the same playbook to win in New York.”