Zohran Mamdani Makes History as New York’s First Muslim Mayor

New York City has elected Zohran Mamdani as its new mayor, marking a historic and dramatic shift in American politics. At 34, Mamdani becomes the youngest mayor in more than a century — and the first Muslim and first African-born leader of the city. His win caps off one of the most colorful and contentious mayoral races in recent memory.

Mamdani’s rise from political outsider to mayor-elect has stunned the establishment. Running with little money and no major party backing, he toppled heavyweights like former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. “We have toppled a political dynasty,” he told cheering supporters in Brooklyn. “I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name.”

His campaign, powered by volunteers and a savvy social media presence, centered on affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Mamdani promised “fast and free” buses, rent freezes, free childcare, and even city-run supermarkets — policies his critics have dismissed as unrealistic. He insists he’ll raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for them.

“I’m Muslim. I’m a democratic socialist. And I refuse to apologise for either,” he declared during his victory speech. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. This is not only how we stop Trump. It’s how we stop the next one.”

Donald Trump, who had endorsed Cuomo and warned that a Mamdani victory would bring “disaster” to New York, wasted no time responding. On Truth Social, he posted: “...AND SO IT BEGINS!” The president had also threatened to cut federal funding, saying, “If you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”

Mamdani, who called himself “Trump’s worst nightmare,” appears to be ready for the fight. He has accused Trump of betraying working people and says his election proves Democrats can beat the president’s politics of division. “We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible,” he told the crowd.

Still, his victory brings both opportunity and risk for the Democratic Party. Progressives see him as proof their movement can win big, while critics warn he could become an easy target for Republicans. GOP leaders have already branded him a “communist” and “jihadist candidate.”

Mamdani’s outspoken pro-Palestinian stance has sparked controversy. He previously vowed to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York, drawing condemnation from opponents who accuse him of fueling antisemitism. Mamdani pushed back, saying he will “fight against the scourge of anti-Semitism” and ensure “New York will remain a city of immigrants, built by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”

Despite his clashes with the establishment, Mamdani received congratulatory calls from Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, while figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backed him early on. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer later called the win “historic” and “well-earned.”

The new mayor will take office on January 1st, inheriting a $115 billion budget and the challenge of balancing bold promises with the realities of city governance. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already said she opposes the kind of tax hikes Mamdani plans, meaning his ambitious agenda could face early resistance.

But for now, Mamdani is basking in a victory that feels bigger than just one city. “To me, what binds all of us together is who we are fighting to serve,” he said. “And that is working people.”