– Masood Abdali
Washington: Who is Zohran Mamdani, 33-year-old Indian origin youth, who won the Democratic primary elections for the Mayor of New York in a keenly contested election? In the U.S., party tickets for elections are not issued by party leaders or parliamentary boards; rather, candidates compete directly against one another, a process known as the primary. This means that Zohran Mamdani has secured the Democratic Party ticket for the upcoming mayoral election. The actual contest will take place on Nov. 5.
The impact of New York’s elections is being felt from the U.S. all the way to Israel. Even President Trump couldn’t hold back from commenting, mockingly labelling Mamdani a “communist” after the results were announced. Israeli newspapers are abuzz with discussions on Mamdani’s personality and political ideology. Mamdani has also invited adverse comments, particularly from hardline Hindutva groups in India, for his ‘harsh criticism’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before diving into the electoral outcome, a few lines about Zohran Mamdani’s personal and ideological background:
Zohran’s father, Dr. Mahmood Mamdani, was born in Maharashtra and moved at a very young age to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. He received his early education in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and after finishing school, he received a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. During his student days, Mahmood Mamdani was actively involved in the struggle for racial equality and human rights, even serving time in jail. Zohran Mamdani, therefore, inherited a legacy of resistance politics. His PhD thesis at Harvard University also focused on Uganda’s class-based politics.
In 1991, Mahmood Mamdani married filmmaker Mira Nair, a Punjabi Hindu from Odisha, India, who is 12 years younger than him. Zohran was born in Kampala. His father is a Shia Muslim and his mother a Hindu, but Zohran identifies simply as “Muslim,” avoiding any sectarian labels.
When Zohran was five, his father joined the University of Cape Town in South Africa, but within two years, the family moved to New York, where Zohran completed his early education. He later graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine. As a student, he was a vocal human rights activist and established a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine at his college.
After entering professional life, Zohran actively supported tenants facing eviction and helped people struggling to pay rent access legal aid. Thanks to his mother, he also developed a love for music and composed soundtracks for some of Mira Nair’s films.
Zohran entered politics by working on election campaigns of various progressive leaders, including Qadir El-Yateem, Ross Barkan, and Tiffany Cabán. He affiliated himself with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Socialists of America. In 2020, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, a seat he retained in both 2022 and 2024. He is considered one of the most active members of the state assembly, having introduced 20 bills and contributed to over 230 others. During the recent campaign, he did not miss a single assembly session.
In October last year, Zohran Mamdani announced his candidacy for Mayor. After Israel, New York is home to the largest Jewish population in the world, and winning here often requires Jewish support. Zohran, however, is not opposed to any religion, but his stance on Palestinian rights is strong and unwavering. He was even arrested during a protest against the genocide in Gaza. He has publicly stated that if Netanyahu visits New York, he should be arrested under the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
Interestingly, his mother shares his fervent support for Palestinian rights. In July 2013, she was invited to present her film at the Haifa (Israel) Film Festival. With unwavering resolve, she declined the invitation and wrote:
- “I will go to Israel when:
- “The walls separating Israeli and Palestinian communities are brought down,
- “The occupation (of Palestine) ends,
- “No religion holds superiority over another,
- “Apartheid ends.”
She concluded her letter by writing:
“I support the Palestinian call for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel (PACBI).”
With such a deeply rooted ideological and family background, stepping into the mayoral race in New York is the kind of challenge only a person with strong nerves like Zohran Mamdani could take on. His platform focuses on the needs of the working class and the poor, including Free Bus Rides for commuting to work, Monitoring of Rising Rents and Arbitrary Actions by landlords, and Establishment of Government-Run Grocery Stores offering affordable food to citizens.
Initially, over 100 candidates entered the race, most of whom withdrew after realising the odds. Ultimately, only 12 candidates remained. The real battle was between former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.
Andrew Cuomo’s late father, Mario Cuomo, was also a former governor. Except for Jewish Voice for Peace, all Jewish and conservative groups supported Cuomo. Once again, those who often preach about ethics showed their true colours. As governor, Andrew Cuomo was embroiled in scandals involving corruption, extortion, and sexual misconduct, eventually resigning from office. Yet, to defeat Mamdani, the so-called champions of decent and fair politics opened their financial coffers to support Cuomo’s campaign.
Also Read: Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayoral Bid Faces Fire from Indian Political Circles
On the other hand, progressive Democratic leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders, openly supported Zohran Mamdani. Women from Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi communities ran a powerful grassroots campaign. They called every voter and knocked on every door to mobilise public opinion. According to the results, Zohran Mamdani won the race with 43.51% of the vote, while Andrew Cuomo received 36.42%.
Despite his loss, Andrew Cuomo has decided not to withdraw but instead run as an independent candidate. Current Mayor Eric Adams is also contesting as an independent, while the Republican Party is fielding 71-year-old Curtis Sliwa. With five months remaining until the election, it is difficult to predict the outcome, but from President Trump to the Israeli government, and across all extremist and biased factions in the U.S., efforts are being made to defeat Zohran Mamdani – suggesting an intense and closely fought election ahead.
