Who is Zohran Mamdani? Meet the NYC mayoral race candidate with a Mira Nair connection
Six months ago, many New Yorkers did not know Zohran Mamdani's name. Now, he's in second place in the mayoral race. Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman from Queens, has surprised the political world with his strong fund-raising numbers, populist proposals, and videos that have gone viral on social media.
The 33-year-old has been making the case that he is the strongest candidate to beat the front-runner in the race, former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, who has a well-funded super PAC supporting him.
Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, to acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and noted academic Mahmood Mamdani, Mamdani moved to New York City at the age of 7.
His middle name, Kwame, pays tribute to Ghana's revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and went on to graduate from Bowdoin College in 2014 with a degree in Africana Studies. During his time at Bowdoin, he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, marking the start of his political activism.
He became a naturalised US citizen in 2018. He was elected to the New York State Assembly for the 36th District in 2020, becoming the first South Asian man, the first Ugandan, and the third Muslim to hold that position.
Mamdani is a practising Shia Muslim. He recently married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-born illustrator whose work has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker and The Washington Post.
As per a report by NYT, the self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani has pledged to tackle the city's affordability crisis with bold proposals, including rent freezes for nearly one million rent-stabilised apartments, free public buses, and city-owned grocery stores. He plans to fund these initiatives by raising taxes on the wealthy, a stance that has unsettled business leaders who support Cuomo.
'We live in the most expensive city in the United States of America, and it's a city that used to be one of dreams that is now just one of struggle,' he said on MSNBC this week.
Known for his progressive vision, Mamdani has captured attention with his populist platform and viral social media presence. He has used his platform to push left-wing policies and shift the ideological centre of Albany politics, as he is now vying to become the city's first Muslim mayor.
Mamdani, a millennial, is also drawing comparisons to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Zohran for mayor on Thursday for the upcoming June 24 Democratic primary.
A post shared by Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani)
'Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,' Ocasio-Cortez said as quoted by NYT. 'In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that.'
While only a few of the 20+ bills he has introduced have become law, Mamdani is recognised more for mobilising public opinion and supporting broader movements like Good Cause Eviction and Build Public Renewables. An outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, Mamdani has also drawn controversy for his positions on Israel.
Most recently, as per a report by NYT, a Republican city councilwoman from Queens, Vickie Paladino, sparked outrage by calling for his deportation, despite his citizenship, citing his political views and naturalisation timeline. Mamdani responded by denouncing the rhetoric as Islamophobic and emblematic of Trump-era politics, the report added.
Thank you Sunset Park for rallying and canvassing with us on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Always so proud to stand with my incredible colleagues in elected office, @alexaforcouncil and @marcelaforny. pic.twitter.com/CdVJ50gebK
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 1, 2025
While former Governor Andrew Cuomo leads Mamdani slightly in current first-choice polling, ranked-choice simulations show Mamdani closing in by the final round.
Backed by the Working Families Party and UAW president Shawn Fain, Mamdani's campaign has over 20,000 volunteers canvassing citywide. In a recent debate, he branded Cuomo 'corrupt' and called himself 'Donald Trump's worst nightmare — a progressive, Muslim immigrant.'
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