Who is Zohran Mamdani? Meet the Indian- origin New York City mayoral candidate and son of director Mira Nair
In a landmark political upset, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has clinched the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in a high-stakes, closely watched ranked-choice primary on Tuesday night.
With 89% of precincts reporting an hour after polls closed at 9 p.m., Mamdani led the field with 44% of first-choice votes, while Cuomo trailed at 36%. City Comptroller Brad Lander secured 11%.
Cuomo conceded defeat Tuesday night, following the first round of vote tallies.
Mamdani's campaign centered on the cost of living jolted the contest, told supporters, 'I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City,'
'I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all,' he said. 'I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own.'
Cuomo, who had been the front-runner throughout a race that was his comeback bid from a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the election, telling a crowd he had called Mamdani to congratulate him.
"Tonight was not our night," Cuomo, a political veteran who was vying to come back from a sexual harassment scandal, told supporters at an election night party. "I called him, I congratulated him...he won."
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That Mr. Mamdani has managed to win the Primary election with a message of shunning Israel as a Jewish state in favour of an Israel that gives equal rights to all citizens came as a surprise to many after the 2024 Presidential elections saw the Democrats take a meek position on the Gaza conflict. What does Zohran Mamdani promise Mr. Mamdani's position on Israel, though typically outside the scope of a New York City mayoral campaign, was not the only thing that ruffled feathers. Branding himself as a democratic socialist, Mr. Mamdani has stuck to a few key promises that he hopes to deliver. Freezing the rent, making buses fast and fare-free, opening city-owned grocery stores and making housing by and for New York have been some of his core tenets that he has said will serve toward making New York a more affordable city. To address this cost-of-living crisis, Mr. Mamdani plans to impose taxes on 'big corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers'. Billionaires ke paas already sab kuchh hai. Ab, aapka time aageya. Billionaires already have everything. Now, your time has come. — Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 4, 2025 Mr. Mamdani's manifesto has been termed as radical by his opponents, with many looking to his past to predict his term as a potential Mayor. His win comes on the back of what appears to be compromises on some of his earlier views. Nearly five years ago, Mr. Mamdani was a vocal advocate of defunding the police; now, he has made multiple clarifications that he won't do so, and instead will work towards a Department of Community Safety. Why is Zohran Mamdani's victory surprising Zohran Mamdani, in one of his last campaign videos before the Primary election, called on voters to support him in toppling a political dynasty. The road for Mr. Mamdani's campaign this election has been uphill. 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He delivered Bollywood-style dialogues in Hindi to explain New York's rank-choice voting system using Mango Lassi, and a few weeks later filmed himself speaking in Bangla. Campaign posters promising a rent freeze in Yiddish dotted the city, while he visited Halal Carts to highlight the rising costs in the city. Despite a populist message, he continued to trail behind Mr. Cuomo in the pre-poll assessments until June 23, as he countered attacks on his lack of experience and 'radical ideas.' Mr. Cuomo, who had accused Mr. Mamdani of harbouring anti-semitic views, saw his support wither as the voting day approached, and eventually had to concede defeat to his younger counterpart who raced ahead with over 43% of the votes. Later in November, Zohran Mamdani will face off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent. He may also have to once again run against Mr. Cuomo, who may also choose to contest as an Independent candidate. 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