The results of the Democratic primary elections in NYC made history this week. As a 33-year-old Democratic socialist, Mamdani has become one of the first Indian American frontrunners in the race for the Mayoral election. If elected, Zohran would become the first Indian-American and the first Muslim mayor of New York.
Popular for his progressive campaign that focused on making one of the world’s most expensive cities more affordable, Mamdani won with a 43.5% vote share.
An outspoken critic of Israel’s attack on Gaza, Mamdani is a graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine. He previously worked to help low-income homeowners fight against evictions as a counsellor in Queens. The Democratic nominee also announced his intention to finance his rent freezing and other welfare policies by taxing the wealthiest 1 per cent of New Yorkers, calling for wealth redistribution.
What is Zohar Mamdani’s India link?
A first-generation Immigrant, Zohar Mamdani was born to Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani.
He spent his early childhood in Kampala, Uganda, before migrating to New York with his family at the age of seven, where he became a naturalised American citizen in 2018.
Mamdani himself is popular for openly showcasing his Indian roots in his viral political campaign videos all over the internet. Touting his relation to Indian films, Mamdani also came into focus for directly addressing Indian-origin New Yorkers with his campaign videos. In viral videos, he frequently switched his language from English to Hindi and Urdu, referencing humorous quips about Bollywood films such as Deewar.
The Democratic candidate who openly referred to himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare” during his campaign previously served as a representative in the New York State Assembly. Zohan further describes himself as the first ever South Asian man to serve in the NYS Assembly and only the third Muslim to ever be a member of the body.
In his victory speech early on Wednesday, Mandani claimed, “Tonight, we made history.” “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City. I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you.”
In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 25, 2025
My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it.
I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City. pic.twitter.com/AgW0Z30xw1
“We can be free and we can be fed. We can demand what we deserve,” he added.