Zohran K. Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of New York City, was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York at age 7, where he attended NYC Public Schools. After graduating from high school, he earned a bachelor's degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. 

A New York Assembly member representing part of Queens since 2021, Mamdani previously worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor for low-income families. In October 2024, he announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election. His recent victory signals the start of a promising political career, and his advocacy for social justice and equality is gaining rapid attention. 

Mamdani's main mayoral opponents consisted of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He started his rise early by winning June's Democratic primary by 12 percentage points, quickly becoming one of the country's most popular and polarizing politicians along the way. Taking the stage Tuesday night, Mamdani didn't shy away from his socialist political views, ultimately winning 50.4% of the vote. He became the first mayoral candidate since 1969 to receive more than one million votes, and the race was the first since 1969 to surpass more than two million votes in total. 

Mamdani's campaign resonated with many New Yorkers, particularly young and progressive voters, due to his key policies. These included affordable rent stabilization, free bus services, city-run grocery stores, universal childcare, and increased taxes for the wealthy. 

His campaign also benefited from the support of influential figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He secured the endorsements of top Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul. 

The Democratic Socialists of America view his win as a significant victory for democratic socialism. However, some New Yorkers question his lack of experience in office. There are concerns about his policies, noting that financing his ambitious plans requires cooperation from the state to raise taxes. President Trump has threatened to “withhold federal funding” to NYC if Mamdani became mayor. Mamdani directed a portion of his victory speech towards Trump and his supporters, urging them to “turn the volume up!” 

Once Mamdani is inaugurated into office (starting January 1, 2026), he’ll need to deliver on his bold commitments, which will require a creative navigation of state-level politics, budget constraints, and alliances.