What to know about Zohran Mamdani and what he wants to do in NYC

Mamdani seals remarkable victory - but real challenges await

 Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s rise has been nothing short of historic. In 2025, he won the election for mayor of New York City — becoming its first Muslim mayor, its youngest mayor in over a century, and a milestone figure for progressive politics in the city

Below, I’ll lay out who he is, what his campaign looked like, why he won, and what it might mean going forward.

 

 

Who Is Zohran Mamdani

• Background & Early Life
  Mamdani was born in 1991 in Kampala, Uganda.
  His family later moved to South Africa and then to the U.S. when he was young.
  He grew up in New York, attended Bronx High School of Science, and later studied at Bowdoin College.

• Political Career Before the Mayoral Race
  He’s been a member of the New York State Assembly (representing District 36 in Queens) since 2021.
  He’s aligned with progressive politics — a member or supporter of Democratic Socialists of America, and advocates for strong reforms on housing, transit, public services, climate, and social justice.

Why He Won

Some of the key reasons behind his victory:

1. Progressive / Populist Platform
   Mamdani campaigned on issues like making housing more affordable, public transit reforms (such as fare-free buses), free or universal child care, raising minimum wage, rent freezes, and taxing the wealthy/corporations.
   He also emphasized environmental reforms and climate-focused policies.

2. Grassroots Support & Young Voters
   His campaign drew large numbers of volunteers, especially among progressive and younger constituencies.

3. Changing Political Landscape
   His win reflects broader shifts in New York politics — declining influence of old-guard Democratic figures, dissatisfaction with status quo, concern about cost of living, housing, transit, and inequality.

4. Strong Performance in Primary & Electoral System
   The Democratic primary used ranked-choice voting, which can benefit candidates with broad progressive appeal; Mamdani performed well there.

5. Weakness / Controversy Among Rivals
   Andrew Cuomo’s political comeback bid has been controversial; Mamdani’s more fresh-faced image and bold proposals contrasted with Cuomo’s establishment background.

He also wants to add a flat 2% tax for New Yorkers who make more than $1m a year. The campaign said these hikes would raise $9bn, but how they would be raised remains a question. Kathy Hochul, the governor of wider New York state, has also said she won't support the new mayor's plan to increase taxes on the wealthy.

Mamdani wants to raise the city's minimum wage - currently $16.50 per hour - up to $30 per hour by 2030.

But critics have argued that it would put many lower-skilled workers out of work and force them out of the city.