Mamdani elected mayor of New York

Zohran Mamdani, 34, has won a historic election as New York City’s 111th mayor, becoming the first openly democratic socialist to lead the city and igniting debate over the Democratic Party’s future

Oct 18, 1991: Born in Kampala, Uganda to parents of Indian descent: Columbia University anthropology professor Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed film director Mira Nair

1998: Moves to New York City with family at age seven

1999-2014: Attends The Bronx High School of Science and later graduates from Bowdoin College in Maine with bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies, where he co-founds campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine

2015-19: Works as housing officer in Queens, helping low-income homeowners fight eviction

2018: Becomes U.S. citizen through naturalisation

2020: Wins seat in New York State Assembly representing Queens

Feb 2025: Marries Brooklyn-based Syrian artist Rama Duwaji

Jun 24: Wins New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, making affordability the central message of his campaign

Nov 4: Defeats former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, running as independent, to become city’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian descent

MAYORAL ELECTION RESULT (%)
91% of votes in

Zohran Mamdani
Democrat
50.4%
Votes: 1,036,051

Andrew Cuomo
Independent
41.6%
854,995

Curtis Sliwa
Republican: 7.1% – 146,137

Other: 0.9%

Mamdani’s mandate for change to make good on his promises will lay groundwork for Democrats as they seek to recover from 2024 loss

Sources: AP, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Picture: Newscom
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