New York, home of Broadway, pizza, and bagels, has elected a new mayor. Zohran Mamdani was elected to the office on November 4th. His platform included free public buses, a rent freeze on rent-based housing, universal child care, and affordable housing. In a race against 2 other people, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Anthony Silwa, the 34 year old won the popular vote.

Zohran Mamdani was born on Oct. 18th, 1991, in Uganda to Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair. He immigrated to Cape Town, South Africa (during the ages of 3-5), then to New York City at the age of 7. He grew up in the Bronx, attended and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. 

After graduating from high school, Mamdani attended Bowdoin College, in Maine, and successfully co-founded the school’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, a pro-Palistine student activist organization, and frequently wrote articles for his The Bowdoin Orient (the school newspaper) with topics such as politics, culture, and sports. He graduated from Bowdoin in 2014 with a degree in Africana studies.

Almost immediately after college, Mamdani entered the political world. He joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and worked on the campaign counsel of a New York City Counsel candidate. He also served as campaign manager and field organizer for numerous campaigns. 

In 2019, he announced his campaign to represent New York’s 36th State Assembly District. He won the general election with no Republican contest. He was reelected in 2022 and 2024. He is a member of the DSA’s nine member group, “State Socialists in Office” and was on nine State Assembly Committees. He was the prime sponsor of 20 bills, 3 of which have become the law.

In 2025, he announced his campaign for mayor. His platform included free public buses, a rent freeze on rent-based housing, universal child care, affordable housing, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030. Zohran Mamdani won the election, making him New York City’s youngest mayor since 1982!