SAEDNEWS: Zahran Mamdani, a Shia and Democratic candidate, was an unknown figure in last year’s New York mayoral race, but he is now on the verge of leading the city’s government.
According to Saed News political service, citing Euronews, 34-year-old Zaharan Mamdani, a politician with socialist principles, grew up in an immigrant family. While he has become an appealing figure for New Yorkers, U.S. President Donald Trump opposes him.
The New York mayoral election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, with Zaharan Mamdani competing alongside two other candidates. His rivals are Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, and Andrew Cuomo, former New York governor, who is running as an independent.
Andrew Cuomo, considered a centrist, resigned from the governorship in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations. Polls indicate that Zaharan Mamdani is the frontrunner in the New York mayoral race.
Born in Uganda to a family of Indian descent, Mamdani’s mother is a prominent Indian-American filmmaker, and his father is a Ugandan university professor of Indian heritage. When Mamdani was five, his family briefly moved to South Africa before eventually settling in New York.
Mamdani entered the New York State Assembly in 2020 and announced his mayoral candidacy in October 2024. Initially, few believed he could win, but he defeated the former governor in the Democratic primary with 56 percent of the vote.
Mamdani is a Twelver Shia Muslim, a fan of hip-hop music, and supports the Arsenal football club in the United Kingdom.
Housing has been the centerpiece of Mamdani’s campaign. With New York among the most expensive cities in the world for rent, he has promised to stabilize rents, increase housing units, and enforce stricter oversight on private landlords.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani supports a flat 2% tax on individuals earning over $1 million annually. Although he grew up in a relatively affluent environment, he champions socialist policies such as corporate tax increases, free bus services, and raising the minimum wage from $16.50 to $30.
In his campaign, Mamdani emphasized that defending democracy is not only about resisting authoritarianism but also ensuring that it meets the material needs of the working class.
Mamdani’s policies are considered far-left within the U.S. political spectrum, differing significantly from the average Democratic candidate. Andrew Cuomo has accused him of anti-business policies, claiming New York would be “ruined” under Mamdani’s leadership.
He is also an advocate for Palestinian rights, a position that could be controversial in New York, where the Democratic Party traditionally maintains close ties with the Jewish community and pro-Israel lobbying groups. New York hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Mamdani’s political stances closely resemble those of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
New York is the financial and economic heart of the U.S., with nearly 8.5 million residents, facing challenges in housing, public transit, and crime. The city’s mayor holds national visibility, as seen with Rudy Giuliani during the September 11 attacks.
Although Donald Trump now resides in Florida, he is originally from New York. A mayor whose political positions sharply contrast with his own is unlikely to please Republicans. Trump has labeled Mamdani a “crazy communist” and a “disaster waiting to happen” and has threatened to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani wins.
Mamdani’s victory could also signal the Democratic Party’s future direction. After last year’s shock defeat, the party may focus more on working-class issues and distancing itself from elites if Mamdani succeeds.
If elected, Zaharan Mamdani would become New York’s youngest mayor in over a century and the city’s first Muslim mayor.
