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He is the first South Asian man and Ugandan to serve in the assembly and the third Muslim person to do so.
He worked as a foreclosure-prevention housing counselor prior to serving in the assembly, according to his biography.
He is the son of Mahmood Mamdani, a professor at Columbia University, and Mira Nair, an Indian filmmaker, according to CNN.
What to know about the New York City primary
The marquee mayoral race could provide a bellwether for the larger Democratic party.
A 2023 report found more than 8,500 active sheds spanning 380 miles across the five boroughs, with some in place for years.
His four-step plan includes:
- Removing all sheds on city properties that have been up for over three years
- Extending building inspection timelines from five to ten years
- Incentivizing faster shed removals
- Implementing safer, brighter scaffolding design standards
Trump's thoughts on Mamdani
Trump on NYC mayor?s race: 'He?s my little communist mayor'
?I call him my little communist?
Although the final outcome won't be official until mid-July, NYC's Board of Elections is expected to have unofficial results of ranked-choice voting by July 1.
Cuomo, 67, and Mamdani represented ideological poles in the 11-candidate field, with ex-governor − a centrist who appointed many Republicans to his administration − on its right, and Democratic Socialists of America member Mamdani on its left.
The presumptive Democratic nominee, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor and its first Asian American mayor, will begin the general election as the favorite in the overwhelmingly Democratic city.
What are Zohran Mamdani's positions?
Mamdani described himself on his campaign website as a democratic socialist.
FOx 5 NY's Morgan McKay has the latest.
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump referred to Zohran Mamdani as a "Communist" and claimed New York City would face "economic and social disaster" under his leadership.
Trump said he would provide only the "bare minimum" federal assistance required by law if Mamdani were elected, writing, "It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm," and that he didn’t want to "send good money after bad."
He went on to urge New Yorkers to back Andrew Cuomo, saying they "really have no choice" but to vote for him, while dismissing Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa as a spoiler whose support would only help Mamdani.
The Source: Information from FOX 5 NY election coverage and the Associated Press was used in this report.
In 2018, Mamdani became naturalized as an American citizen.
Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents?
Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani.
Mahmood Mamdani is the Herbert Lehman professor of government at Columbia University. "The top affordability issue for New Yorkers is housing," Mamdani said.
Adams dropped out of the primary to run as independent in the general election and has been sagging in approval numbers since his 2024 criminal indictment on federal corruption charges. Nair's other notable films include "Mississippi Masala," "Monsoon Wedding" and "Queen of Katwe."
Who is Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji?
Zohran Mamdani married his wife, 28-year-old Rama Duwaji, earlier this year.
Duwaji is an artist and illustrator whose work has been featured in publications including The New Yorker and The Washington Post, according to her website.
She is a native of Texas and holds a master's degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York, Mamdani's campaign told The New York Times earlier this year.
While she largely stayed out of the public eye during her husband's campaign, Duwaji is set to become New York's youngest first lady ever.
on election night. His comments come as Mayor Eric Adams doubles down on staying in the race and Andrew Cuomo sharpens his attacks on rivals. But it’s different when it’s about those you love." He added, "Three months ago, I married the love of my life… now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her."
Mamdani's political rise
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 26: New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, center, celebrates with Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I-VT), left, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), right, during an election rally on October 26, 2025 at Forest Hills S
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Mamdani’s political rise is driven by his grassroots organizing, progressive values and ability to connect with younger voters.
Known for his strong social media presence and activist background, he has built a platform centered on equity and community empowerment, making him a formidable candidate in the mayoral race.
His campaign has gained support from well-known progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighting a growing move toward progressive politics in the city.
Mamdani's platform
One-on-one with Zohran Mamdani | Politics Unusual
FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani about his policy proposals, his plans to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams recent endorsement of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
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Affordability and Housing
Mamdani says his top priority is tackling New York City’s affordability crisis, with a particular focus on housing.
Official results will likely come out on July 14.
Contributing: Ben Adler, Eduardo Cuevas, Anna Kaufman, Sudiksha Kochi and Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY
NYC mayor race: Cuomo concedes to Mamdani. it would look like he?s going to win, and that?s a rebellion,? He's made a fight against the establishment of the Democratic party a cornerstone of his primary campaign.
The website lists the following as his platform planks:
- An immediate rent freeze for all rent-stabilized tenants
- The elimination of fares on city buses
- Creating a Department of Community Safety and investments in citywide mental health programs and crisis response
- A 2% tax on residents earning above $1 million annually
- Raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%
- Overhauling the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants so as to toughen code enforcement on landlords
- Fast-tracking affordable housing development
- Establishing city-owned grocery stores
Who has endorsed Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani's tentpole endorsements in the race came from left-wing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes parts of the Bronx and Queens.
He has also been cross-endorsed by fellow candidates New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and former Assemblymember Eric Blake.
Other notable political endorsements include New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Representative Jamaal Bowman and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich.
How old is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani is 33 years old.
"They feel it every single day."
Beyond rent stabilization, Mamdani wants to dramatically expand the city’s housing supply, calling for both the private and public sectors to "build immediately affordable housing."
Public Safety and the NYPD
Mamdani has said he would retain current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected, citing her efforts to "deliver accountability, root out corruption and reduce crime across five boroughs." While the two diverge on issues like bail reform — which Mamdani supports and Tisch opposes — he has stated that keeping her on aligns with his goal of advancing reform without compromising his platform.
Free Public Transit
A centerpiece of Mamdani’s campaign is his plan to make all city buses free, arguing that fare-free service would increase ridership, relieve financial strain on working families, and even improve public safety.
He previously led the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda and currently serves as chancellor of Kampala International University.
The two met in 1988 in Uganda while Nair was conducting research for her film "Mississippi Masala."
Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji
New York mayoral candidate, State Rep.
Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) kisses the hand of his wife Rama Duwaji as they celebrate during an election night gathering at (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Zohran Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian illustrator and animator who lives in Brooklyn.
Her work focuses on themes like sisterhood and community, and she’s collaborated with major outlets, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, and Spotify.
Now, the democratic socialist faces the enormous task of turning bold promises — like free child care, city-run grocery stores and a reimagined public safety system — into reality.
Get to know New York's historic new mayor.
History will be made when Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City's mayor on Jan. 1.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, will be New York City's first Muslim mayor and its first Asian American mayor.
The 34-year-old's remarkable descent from a seat in the state's assembly to steering the city of dreams has launched him into the national spotlight.
In what some considered a shocking upset, Mamdani defeated former Gov.
Andrew Cuomo in the November mayoral election. Trump said on Fox & Friends. His campaign has also launched a "Costs Saved" calculator to show how much residents could save through free buses, universal childcare, and a rent freeze.
Improving Daily Life
Mamdani has also pledged to address quality-of-life issues that affect New Yorkers every day — starting with the city’s overabundance of sidewalk sheds.
Most previous polls have shown Cuomo with a larger lead, around 10 percentage points, on average.
Unofficial results of first-choice votes will be available shortly after polls close at 9 p.m. Her films have been recognized with a variety of honors, including her 1988 movie, "Salaam Bombay!," which was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
"What you’ll hear from bus drivers is that a significant portion of the assaults they face is due to the presence of the fare box," he said. If elected in the fall, Mamdani would be New York's first Muslim mayor and has made his faith a centerpiece of his campaign, often visiting mosques in his series of social media videos during his campaign.