Who is Zohran Mamdani? Mira Nair's Son Could Be New York City's Next Mayor

Indian-origin New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has unexpectedly emerged as a leading contender in the 2025 New York City mayoral race. Representing Queens, the 33-year-old progressive Democrat is currently polling second, trailing only former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Inspired by veteran US Senator Bernie Sanders, Mamdani has built his campaign around bold socialist ideas like free city bus rides, a city-run grocery network, a rent freeze, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030. Once a relatively unknown figure, he has surged in visibility through grassroots fundraising, viral social media messaging, and a key focus on housing, transit, and economic justice.

Zohran Mamdani is a politician and community organiser serving as a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 36th District in Queens since 2021. He was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda. His father is Mahmood Mamdani, an Indian-born Ugandan Marxist scholar, and his mother is Mira Nair, an Indian-American filmmaker. At the age of five, Mr Mamdani moved with his family to Cape Town, South Africa. The family relocated to New York City when he was seven.

Before politics, he worked as a housing counsellor and organiser, focusing on tenant rights and social justice issues. He won the 2020 Democratic primaries and took office in 2021 as New York State Assembly member for Queens' 36th District. He was re-elected unopposed in 2022 and 2024.

Mamdani, running for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election, announced his candidacy on October 23, 2024, following federal investigations into incumbent Mayor Eric Adams's administration.

In the race, he faces opponents such as former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who entered the mayoral race on March 8, despite past controversies. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 24, 2025, and will utilise a ranked-choice voting system.