Wo i’s Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, to Mahmood Mamdani, a political scientist and anthropologist who is the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and director of the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University.His mother is Mira Nair, an Indian-American filmmaker who is best known for Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake. Mamdani and his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa, when he was five years old. He was seven years old when his family relocated to New York City.
He studied in the city’s public schools before graduating from Bronx High School of Science. Mamdani graduated from Bowdoin College in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies. Then in 2018, he became a naturalised American citizen.
His political journey began as a foreclosure prevention counsellor, and then he volunteered for local campaigns. Mamdani joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2017.
In 2020, he won the 2020 Democratic primaries and took office as the New York State Assembly member for the 36th District of Queens in 2021.
In 2022 and 2024, he won re-election without opposition. He married Syrian artist Rama Duwaji in 2025. He has sponsored 20 bills, three of which have become laws.
Earlier known as Young Cardamom, he has produced some lively hip-hop and reggae videos, including a strong one about disenfranchisement with Madhur Jaffrey called ‘Nani.’
A democratic socialist-inspired by Bernie Sanders, he advocates for free city buses, rent freezes, municipal-owned supermarkets, and a $30 minimum salary by 2030.
While announcing his mayoral bid, he said, “This campaign is for every person who believes in the dignity of their neighbours and that the government’s job is to actually make our lives better.”
Mamdani is contesting against several well-known candidates, including Adrienne Adams, Speaker of the New York City Council; Whitney Tilson, a former hedge fund executive; and Andrew Cuomo, New York’s former Governor.
