Who is Zohran Mamdani, the "socialist" aspiring to the mayoralty of New York?

Zohran Mamdani (born October 18, 1991 in Kampala, Uganda) is an American politician of Ugandan and Indian origin, known for his progressive activism and his candidacy for the New York City mayoralty in 2025. Son of academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, Zohran moved with his family to Cape Town, South Africa, at the age of five, and then to New York at seven. He studied at the "Bronx High School of Science" and obtained his bachelor's degree in African Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. During his time in college, he co-founded the chapter of "Students for Justice in Palestine", marking the beginning of his political activism. Mamdani became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. He is a Shia Muslim and identifies with the Twelver branch. In 2025, he married the Syrian artist Rama Duwaji. He currently resides in an apartment in Astoria, Queens.

Political Career

In 2020, Mamdani was elected as a member of the New York State Assembly for District 36 in Queens, defeating a four-term incumbent. Her platform focused on housing reform, social justice, and the public ownership of services. She has sponsored 20 bills, of which three have become law, and co-authored 238 more. In 2025, Mamdani launched her candidacy for the New York City mayoralty, focusing on progressive policies such as rent freezes, free public transportation, and municipal grocery stores.

Political Vision and Proposals

Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. His platform includes proposals such as the construction of 200,000 affordable homes, the implementation of a minimum wage of $30 per hour by 2030, and the creation of a social housing development agency.

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In the field of transportation, it advocates for the permanent elimination of bus fares and the expansion of the subway service. Furthermore, it has proposed increasing taxes on incomes over $1 million and on corporations to fund these initiatives. During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani has faced criticism for his comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including his defense of the slogan "Globalize the intifada", which has generated controversy and condemnation from Jewish organizations. A new Emerson College poll in partnership with Pix 11 and The Hill shows an unexpected turn in the race for the New York City mayoralty: Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani surpasses former governor Andrew Cuomo for the first time in the final simulated vote by order of preference, a key system in these Democratic primary elections. With the backing of the Working Families Party and a sustained boost in the polls, Mamdani could consolidate as one of the political surprises of the year, in a process where each vote —and each second or third choice— can tip the scales.