New Delhi, Nov 5 (NationPress) Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, achieved a groundbreaking victory in the mayoral election of New York City on Wednesday, triumphing over independent rival Andrew Cuomo in one of the year's most scrutinized contests. With this achievement, Mamdani becomes the city's first Muslim mayor and a leading figure in the progressive movement within America’s largest city. Socialist Zohran Mamdani will officially assume the role of New York City Mayor on January 1, 2026.

In his initial X post after the victory, Mamdani shared a video showing a New York subway train arriving at City Hall, with the message "Zohran For New York City" lighting up the wall. City Hall is home to the mayor's office.

This marks the second occasion Mamdani has outperformed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, having previously defeated him in the Democratic primary in June. Despite Cuomo's efforts to revitalize his political career, he could not recover from that setback. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, facing pressure from Cuomo’s camp, remained steadfast in his campaign until election day.

The election garnered nationwide attention, including notice from US President Donald Trump. On the eve of the election, Trump criticized Mamdani on Truth Social, labeling him a "Communist candidate" and warning that federal funding for the city could be jeopardized if he were elected. "If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum required," Trump stated.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, ran under the Democratic Party banner after securing its nomination against Cuomo and then-incumbent Mayor Eric Adams earlier this year. His victory signifies a pivotal transformation in New York's political sphere, reflecting the rising influence of progressive movements within mainstream Democratic politics.

Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Kwame Mamdani is the offspring of Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. His upbringing took him from Uganda to South Africa and ultimately to New York City. He attended the Bank Street School for Children and the Bronx High School of Science before graduating from Bowdoin College in 2014 with a degree in Africana Studies, where he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Prior to entering politics, Mamdani served as a foreclosure prevention counselor and volunteered for various local campaigns. He joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2017 and won a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing Queens’ 36th District. He was re-elected unopposed in both 2022 and 2024, sponsoring 20 bills during his tenure, three of which were enacted into law.

A hip-hop artist known by the names “Young Cardamom” and “Mr. Cardamom,” Mamdani co-wrote the song #1 Spice for Disney’s Queen of Katwe and released the track Nani in 2019, honoring his grandmother with the participation of actress Madhur Jaffrey. After becoming a naturalized US citizen in 2018, he married Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji in 2025.

Mamdani’s campaign prioritized affordability and social equity, advocating for rent freezes on stabilized units, the construction of 200,000 public housing units, universal childcare, tuition-free education, fare-free buses, and city-operated grocery stores.

This election witnessed the highest voter turnout for a mayoral race in over 50 years, with more than 2 million New Yorkers participating, according to the city's Board of Elections.