Summary
Zohran Mamdani announced he was running for mayor of New York City in October. He claimed victory in the Democratic primary, though the final results will depend on a ranked choice vote count on July 1. Mamdani, who is both an Indian American and Muslim, could become one of the city's youngest mayors.
Key Facts
- Zohran Mamdani currently serves as a state lawmaker in New York.
- He was born in Uganda, moved to New York City at age 7, and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
- Mamdani’s mother is filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father is an anthropology professor at Columbia University.
- He married Syrian American artist Rama Duwaji earlier this year.
- Mamdani previously worked to help people in Queens avoid eviction.
- He was involved in the local hip hop scene, performing under the name Young Cardamom.
- In 2020, Mamdani was elected to the New York Assembly, defeating a longtime incumbent.
- He helped pass a trial program to make some city buses free for a year.
- His opponents criticize him for being inexperienced but he argues this can be an advantage.
