Democrat Zokhran Mamdani, an American with immigrant roots, won the New York City mayoral election. What is known about the young politician and how he managed to attract voters - at DW.
Zokhran Mamdani won a decisive victory in the New York City mayoral election on November 4, receiving 50.35 percent of the votes, according to preliminary unofficial results. The two other candidates, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, garnered 7.14 and 41.6 percent of the votes, respectively.
In October 2024, when Mamdani announced his intention to run for the head of the largest city in the United States, few believed in his success. Now he is a rising star on the U.S. political scene, and the number of his supporters is only growing. What you need to know about the new mayor of New York City, 34-year-old Zokhran Mamdani - at DW.
A migrant and the first Muslim mayor of New York City
Zokhran Mamdani is an American with immigrant roots. He was born in Uganda to parents of Indian descent. His mother, Mira Nair, is a renowned Indian-American filmmaker, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan scholar of Indian origin. When Zokhran Mamdani was 5 years old, his family moved from Uganda to South Africa, and just two years later, they relocated to New York City. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018 through naturalization. In early 2025, Zokhran Mamdani married Rama Duvaji, an artist of Syrian descent. After winning the election, Mamdani became the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
What are Zokhran Mamdani's political views?
Mamdani's political career has developed rapidly. In 2020, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. In October 2024, when he announced his intention to run for mayor of New York City, many considered his chances of becoming the Democratic Party candidate to be zero. However, Mamdani ultimately won the primary with a convincing 56.4%.
Before starting his political career, Mamdani was involved in helping low-income people facing eviction. This likely played a role in making affordable housing the cornerstone of his mayoral campaign.
Since 2017, Mamdani has been a member of the largest socialist organization in the U.S., the Democratic Socialists of America. Among other things, he advocates for raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing the minimum wage from $16.50 an hour to $30 an hour by 2030.
Mamdani also wants to ensure universal free access to preschool education and gradually introduce free bus rides in New York City. "You have to speak in a language that everyone understands and in which everyone sees themselves. You have to talk about the difficulties that dominate people's everyday lives," Mamdani said in an interview with the British publication New Statesman in September. "Often (Democrats - Ed.) talk about democracy, but if you can't afford to live in the city you call home, then you don't have time to think about values."
What are the criticisms of Mamdani?
Given Zokhran Mamdani's leftist political views, he has plenty of critics. According to some observers, Mamdani has become a polarizing figure in one of the most liberal cities in the U.S.
"Concerns (related to Zokhran Mamdani's political views - Ed.) are driven by the same issues that worry people regarding President Trump," noted former New York Governor David Paterson recently. "He appeals to different audiences and speaks negatively about entire (groups - Ed.) of people. Zokhran Mamdani does exactly the same. But he talks about people who are ordinary Democrats or ordinary Republicans."
The fact that Mamdani has long advocated for Palestinian rights in a city with the largest Jewish diaspora outside of Israel is also perceived by many as a problem. "To be clear, unequivocal, and official: I believe that Zokhran Mamdani poses a danger to the Jewish community of New York City," stated Elliot Cosgrove, a rabbi at a synagogue on Park Avenue in New York City. However, not all Jews in New York share this opinion; many have said they support Mamdani.
Meanwhile, some business representatives have expressed concerns. Noted financier and investor billionaire Bill Ackman wrote on social media X that "Mamdani's anti-business policies, including raising corporate taxes, will destroy jobs in New York City and force companies to leave the city."
Disagreements between Zokhran Mamdani and Donald Trump
Donald Trump, who was born and raised in New York City, does not hide his dislike for Zokhran Mamdani. Ahead of the election, the U.S. president threatened on his social media platform Truth Social that if Mamdani wins, the White House is unlikely to allocate federal funds to New York City beyond the legally mandated minimum.
Previously, Donald Trump referred to Zokhran Mamdani as a "communist lunatic" and a "disaster waiting to happen." Mamdani himself stated that he would try to work with President Trump for the good of the city but would not be intimidated.
"If you want to talk about how you can make life difficult for New Yorkers by persecuting so many people in this city and destroying its very structure, I will be ready to fight you," Zokhran Mamdani said, addressing Trump in an interview with the political satire duo The Good Liars. Given that the political views of Zokhran Mamdani and Donald Trump appear to be diametrically opposed, there is a high likelihood that their relationship will become yet another battleground in American politics.
Why is the position of mayor of New York City so important?
With a population of 8.5 million people and an annual influx of 65 million visitors, New York City is an important cultural and financial hub. It faces a range of issues related to housing, transportation, and budget funding. The New York City mayor's budget is $116 billion, and its jurisdiction covers a wide array of issues, from education to policing. The scale of the city and its global profile mean that the mayor's work is conducted on both domestic and international fronts. Several previous New York City mayors have run for the presidency of the United States, albeit unsuccessfully.
