Who is New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani? All details

June 24, 2025 — New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani is quickly becoming a rising star in the Democratic race for New York City mayor, challenging former Governor Andrew Cuomo in what is shaping up to be a major battle between progressive and moderate Democrats.

Just a day before the final vote, Mamdani overtook Cuomo on Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction platform, for the first time during the race. The two continued to trade the lead throughout the day on June 23, showing just how close the race has become.

Early voting numbers have also been strong, with 384,338 ballots already cast, far ahead of the 191,197 early votes in 2021. This higher turnout is seen as a good sign for Mamdani, who is supported by a large base of younger and more progressive voters.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Age: 33
Background: Born in Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York City at age 7.
Family: His parents are Mahmood Mamdani, a professor at Columbia University, and Mira Nair, a well-known Indian filmmaker.

He is the first South Asian man and the first Ugandan elected to the New York State Assembly. He also became the third Muslim ever to serve in the state legislature. Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor.

What are his political views?

Zohran Mamdani calls himself a democratic socialist. His campaign is focused on challenging the traditional Democratic establishment and pushing for bold progressive reforms. His platform includes:

• Immediate rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants

• Free bus fares across the city

• New Department of Community Safety and expanded mental health support

• A 2% tax on millionaires

• A higher corporate tax rate (raised to 11.5%)

• Faster development of affordable housing

• Tougher code enforcement on landlords

• Creation of city-owned grocery stores

Who supports Mamdani?

Mamdani has received endorsements from some of the most influential progressive figures in the Democratic Party:

• Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative from New York

• Letitia James, New York Attorney General

• Brad Lander, NYC Comptroller

• Eric Blake, former Assemblymember

• Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

• Jamaal Bowman, former Congressman

These endorsements have boosted Mamdani’s profile and helped him build a strong grassroots campaign.

Cuomo vs. Mamdani: What’s at Stake?

The 2025 NYC mayoral primary is being seen as a battle between two visions for the Democratic Party:

• Andrew Cuomo, representing an older, more moderate Democratic leadership

• Zohran Mamdani, leading a younger, progressive wave focused on economic justice and public services

A recent Emerson College Poll showed Mamdani slightly ahead of Cuomo in the final round of ranked-choice voting — a major shift from earlier polls that gave Cuomo a 10-point lead.

What happens next?

• June 24: Final day of voting

• After 9 p.m.: First-choice unofficial results will be shared

• July 1: Expected release of unofficial ranked-choice results

• July 14: Official final results expected from the Board of Elections

If no candidate wins over 50% of first-choice votes, ranked-choice rounds will be triggered, with the lowest-polling candidates eliminated in stages.

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York State Assemblyman from Queens, is making headlines as he climbs to second place in the race for New York City Mayor 2025. He is the son of award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani.

Zohran is running a bold, progressive campaign. He is seen as a serious challenger to former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is currently leading in the polls. If elected, Zohran Mamdani would become New York’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda. His family moved to Cape Town, South Africa when he was five. They later settled in New York City. Zohran became a naturalised American citizen in 2018.

He studied at the Bronx High School of Science, then earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. During college, he started activism work and founded a student chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Before entering politics, Zohran worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor. He also volunteered in local political campaigns and joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2017.

Political Career and Mayoral Run

Zohran was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 from District 36 in Queens. He won re-election in 2022 and 2024 without any opposition. Since then, he has sponsored 20 bills, and 3 have become law.

He entered the 2025 mayoral race on October 23, 2024, after Mayor Eric Adams faced federal investigations. Zohran quickly gained attention with his strong campaign and large volunteer base.

Progressive Campaign Promises

Zohran is inspired by Bernie Sanders and runs on a progressive platform:

• Freeze rents across NYC

• Make buses and childcare free

• Launch a Department of Community Safety

• Open city-run grocery stores in food deserts

• Raise minimum wage to $30/hour by 2030

He also speaks on global issues. He supports BDS, opposes illegal settlements, and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. At the same time, he stands against antisemitism and supports Israel’s right to exist.

Personal Life and Background

Zohran is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-born illustrator. Her artwork has been featured in The New Yorker and The Washington Post. The couple lives in Astoria, Queens.

He is also a practising Shia Muslim and has a creative side. In 2019, he released a rap song called “Nani” under the stage name Mr. Cardamom, featuring actress Madhur Jaffrey.

Surging in the Polls and Backed by Big Names

Zohran’s campaign is gaining momentum. His first fundraising cycle beat all other candidates. His Hindi-language campaign video, packed with Bollywood references, connected deeply with South Asian voters.

In the ranked-choice polls, he is just two points behind Cuomo. Over 20,000 volunteers are already working for his campaign.

He’s received endorsements from:

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

• Working Families Party

• United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain

In a recent debate, Zohran called himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare”—a progressive, Muslim, immigrant ready to fight for all New Yorkers.

The NYC Democratic Primary will be held on June 24, 2025, using ranked-choice voting. Voters will rank up to five candidates.