Former governor Andrew Cuomo was unseated in the Democratic mayoral primary by Zohran Mamdani. The 33-year-old Mamdani is on track to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
Zohran comes from an illustrious family. He was born to two prominent Indians, filmmaker Mira Nair and professor Mahmood Mamdani, of Columbia University. His mother is from Rourkela, Odisha. Zohran’s father Mahmood Mamdani, a respected Africa -American academic and activist is a Gujarati Muslim who was born in Mumbai when Maharashtra and Gujarat were one State.
Messages in Hindi, Bengali, and other South Asian languages were part of his multilingual strategy. Media reports highlighted that gatherings like “Chai with Zohran” encouraged grassroots support, particularly from young and first-time voters.
Fittingly, he is set to join eminent Indian-origin politicians in the US.
With Mamdani’s election, the Democratic Party’s radical wing defeated one of its most prominent establishment leaders in a significant victory.
Once seen as the inevitable nominee, Andrew Cuomo, 67, entered the Democratic primary as the front-runner. But his political comeback was cut short. After stepping down as governor in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, this fresh defeat has not only dented his return but also reignited concerns about the Democratic Party’s direction as it looks ahead to the 2026 midterms.
Cuomo isn’t done yet. Both he and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams are expected to run independent campaigns, joining Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in challenging Zohran Mamdani in the general election.
Mamdani’s win was an outcome of an issue-driven campaign. He spoke of the realities of everyday New Yorkers. According to reports, he advocated rent freezes and free public transit.
He also established government-run grocery stores to counter rising living costs. In short, his strategy was both cultural and digital. Through diligent use of social media, he was seen walking New York’s streets, engaging voters face-to-face, and even performing scenes from Bollywood films—efforts that built trust across communities.
His rise was expectedly resisted. Then, he supported defunding the police. It did not go down well with critics.
Additionally, he opposed Israel’s actions in Gaza, a city with a sizable chunk of Jewish voters.
Detractors perceived him as radical, too young, and lacking the experience to lead America’s largest and most complex city.
Yet he touched a chord.
He spoke the language of affordability and inclusion. He connected with younger voters and immigrant communities.
Meanwhile, Cuomo acknowledged defeat and lauded Mamdani for an impactful campaign.
What implications does Mamdani’s victory have on the national front? It is held that by foregrounding his identity as a Muslim immigrant during a time of political polarisation over religion and race, he has tapped into a powerful undercurrent in American politics: one that could define the Democratic Party’s future as internal ideological divides continue to grow.
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