Democrat Zohran Mamdani has emerged as one of the most dynamic figures in New York’s political landscape, energising the city’s 2025 mayoral race with a bold, progressive agenda.
The 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens, known for his advocacy on housing justice and public transit, is positioning himself as the voice of a new generation of New Yorkers eager for systemic reform.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents and raised in New York City, Mamdani represents the diversity and ambition of the metropolis he hopes to lead. His political career began with grassroots activism and a successful campaign for the New York State Assembly in 2020, where he became one of the first South Asian and Muslim lawmakers elected to state office.
His mayoral platform focuses on affordable housing, expanding rent control, and investing in public transportation through what he calls “a city built for people, not profit.” He has also proposed a wealth tax on the city’s ultra-rich to fund social programmes and combat inequality. “This campaign is about power – returning it to the people who make New York run every day,” Mamdani told supporters at a rally in Astoria.
NYC Mayoral Election 2025: Curtis Sliwa
Mamdani’s campaign has drawn comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has publicly endorsed him, calling him “a leader who listens to the working class.” His rallies have attracted thousands of young voters and immigrant families, giving his campaign a sense of movement rarely seen in local politics.
However, his opponents – Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo – have criticised his platform as unrealistic and too radical for a city still recovering from economic strain. Mamdani has countered by framing his vision as forward-looking and inclusive, arguing that “bold policies are the only path to lasting stability.”
NYC Mayoral Election 2025: Andrew Cuomo
With progressive enthusiasm high and polling neck-and-neck with Cuomo, Mamdani has turned the 2025 race into one of New York’s most closely watched political contests in decades.