In a landmark moment for New York and for the Indian diaspora, Uganda-born, Indian-Gujarati Democrat Zohran Mamdani has officially been elected as New York City’s next mayor. He defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in one of the most fiercely contested elections in recent US history.
The 34-year-old, son of Gujarat-born academic Mahmoud Mamdani and Padma Bhushan-winning filmmaker Mira Nair, becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and its youngest leader in over a century.
Mamdani traces his roots to Gujarat, through his father, Mahmoud Mamdani, a renowned Ugandan scholar born to Gujarati Muslim parents in Mumbai before the family moved to Kampala.
They belong to the Khoja Twelver Shia community, part of the Indian diaspora that migrated from Gujarat to East Africa in the early 20th century.
Zohran has publicly acknowledged this heritage. This Gujarati lineage forms a key part of his multicultural identity that spans Africa, South Asia, and America.
It’s victory not only for a half-Gujarati but also for the diverse, progressive, and grassroots-powered movement he represents.
Stirring up debates
According to US media reports, alluded to by a section of the Indian media, Mamdani secured 50.6% of the votes, leading in four of the five New York boroughs with his highest margin of 23 points in Queens. Cuomo led only in Staten Island with a 33-point margin.
Cuomo had run as an independent after losing the Democratic primaries to Mamdani in June.
The election, the first major poll since Donald Trump returned to the White House, was dominated by debates over cost of living and immigration.
Trump endorsed Cuomo over Sliwa, saying, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it. Mamdani is not!”
Responding to Trump’s endorsement, Mamdani was quoted as saying, “Congratulations, Andrew Cuomo. I know how hard you worked for this.”
When Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from New York if Mamdani won, “If Communist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins… it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum required, to my beloved first home. I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad (sic),” he wrote.
Mamdani responded firmly, “It is a threat, not the law. Too often we treat whatever comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it’s legal by virtue of who’s saying it. It’s time to stand up to the bullies who make these threats… The best way to respond to Donald Trump is to stand up and fight back.”
Next stop, City Hall
Following his victory, Mamdani shared a video on social media showing subway doors opening with the announcer saying, “The next and last stop is City Hall.”
Mamdani’s rise in American politics has been extraordinary. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to immigrant parents, he grew up in Manhattan, attended public schools, and made his first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt at student politics.
He later graduated from a prestigious New England university before working as a housing counselor, focusing on tenant rights and affordability issues.
Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist. He campaigned on an ambitious progressive platform. His key promises included rent freezes, free bus rides, and universal child care. He also pledged to increase public school funding and create city-owned grocery stores.
His plan called for corporate tax hikes and stronger protections for LGBTQIA+ and immigrant communities. It’s reported that he received endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Both joined his “New York is Not for Sale” rally in October.
At that rally, Sanders reportedly said, “Do not underestimate our opponents. They have a lot of money. A year ago, very few people in New York knew about a 33-year-old assemblyman named Zohran Mamdani. He created an extraordinary grassroots movement.”
Most start and then…
Before becoming mayor, Mamdani had served since 2021 as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district, covering Astoria, Ditmars–Steinway, and Astoria Heights.
His official biography notes that his experience as a foreclosure prevention housing counsellor, helping low-income homeowners fight eviction, inspired him to enter public office.
At the beginning of his campaign, polls suggested Mamdani had only 1% support. Taking many by surprise, he went on to win the primaries, clinching 56% of the votes needed to become the Democratic candidate.
His campaign was largely grassroots-driven, powered by volunteers and small donations, a rarity in US politics dominated by super PACs.
By contrast, Cuomo’s campaign was backed by New York’s wealthy landlords, developers, and at least two billionaires. Donations from real estate developers alone added up to USD 6 million.
Suffolk Constructions gave USD 250,000, Vornado Realty Trust gave USD 150,000, and DoorDash contributed USD 1 million. Michael R Bloomberg donated USD 1.5 million to Cuomo’s campaign, on top of the USD 8 million he had spent during the primaries. Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings also backed Cuomo. It’s reported that in total, 26 billionaires and billion-dollar families spent over USD 22 million to oppose Mamdani.
Two months before the elections, Mamdani’s campaign hit the spending cap of USD 8 million, prompting him to post a video asking supporters to stop donating and volunteer instead. Later, on The Daily Show, he said his campaign had 90,000 volunteers engaged in door-to-door and phone canvassing.
“After the presidential election, there were obituaries written about the Democratic Party’s ability to motivate young voters. There’s a condescension we use in the language we use about young people. But what we found is that young people have been at the heart of believing that something could be more than this,” Mamdani reportedly told Jon Stewart.
During debates, Mamdani repeatedly raised the 2021 sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, made by 13 women who had worked under him. “You [Cuomo] had spent more than USD 20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political. You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women,” Mamdani reportedly said.
He added, “She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her. I, however, can speak.”
Mamdani has been outspoken on Palestine, vowing that as mayor he would honour the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu if the Israeli Prime Minister were to visit New York, a statement that drew bipartisan backlash and accusations of anti-Semitism.
Yet polls indicated strong support among Jewish voters. A Zenith Research poll gave him a 17-point lead over Cuomo, while another found 52% of Jewish voters under 50 supported him. He was also endorsed by Jewish groups including Bend the Arc, Jewish Voice for Peace Action (JVP Action), and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ).
According to an American business magazine, Mamdani’s net worth is estimated between $200,000 and $300,000 (Rs 1.6–2.5 crore), with most assets from family-owned land in Uganda valued between $150,000 and $250,000. His annual salary as a New York State Assembly member stood at $142,000.
He has pledged to “transform the most expensive city in the United States of America into one that’s affordable to each and every person who calls it home.”
Also Read: Mira Nair’s Son Mamdani Tops Cuomo, Poised To Become NYC’s First Muslim Mayor https://www.vibesofindia.com/mira-nairs-son-mamdani-tops-cuomo-poised-to-become-nycs-first-muslim-mayor/
