NEW YORK, Nov. 5 — Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has made history by winning the New York City mayoral election, becoming the first Indian-American of Muslim faith to lead America’s largest city.
Mamdani, who earlier clinched the Democratic primary, defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a closely watched three-way race. He will assume office on Jan. 1, 2026, becoming the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century.
“This victory is not just mine — it belongs to every New Yorker who has ever felt unseen,” Mamdani told cheering supporters at his election night headquarters in Queens. “We proved that hope, inclusivity, and courage can defeat fear and division.”
The 33-year-old progressive lawmaker, who represents Astoria and Long Island City in the New York State Assembly, ran on a platform centered around affordable housing, public transit reform, and racial equity. His campaign drew wide attention for its unapologetic embrace of his South Asian and Muslim identity.
Throughout his campaign, Mamdani often spoke in Hindi and Bengali at rallies, highlighting his heritage while connecting with New York’s large South Asian community. He famously talked about haleem, biryani, and Bollywood films, which he said represented the “shared joy” of immigrant life in the city.
Yet, Mamdani’s progressive stances also attracted criticism. He has supported higher taxes on wealthy neighborhoods, defunding certain police programs, reducing police involvement in domestic disputes, ending gifted education programs, and closing Rikers Island prison.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Kwame Mamdani moved to New York at age seven. He is the son of award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani. Both are Harvard alumni. A graduate of Bowdoin College with a degree in Africana Studies, Mamdani became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
He is married to 27-year-old Syrian artist Rama Duwaji, whom he met on a dating app.
Mamdani’s victory comes despite sharp attacks from former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly called him a “100% communist lunatic” and threatened to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani won. “He looks terrible, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart,” Trump said at a recent rally, adding that he was “better looking” than Mamdani.
Mamdani brushed off the remarks. “What matters is not how we look, but what we build,” he said in response during a CBS interview.
The Democratic socialist received strong backing from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Representative Jerrold Nadler, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Former President Barack Obama, while not formally endorsing Mamdani, called him a “sounding board for a new generation of leaders.”
After the results were announced, Mamdani posted a short video on social media showing a subway train arriving at City Hall — with the words “Zohran For New York City” emerging on the wall.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa conceded defeat late Tuesday night. “He’s going to be my worst enemy, but I’ll give him that — he ran one hell of a campaign,” Sliwa said.
Mamdani’s victory marks a defining moment for New York and U.S. politics — the rise of a young, unapologetically progressive, South Asian, Muslim leader in the heart of America’s most diverse city.
