Who is Zohran Mamdani? Meet New York City’s first Muslim mayor of Indian and African origin 

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani has officially won the race to become New York City’s next mayor, US media reported on Wednesday.

The Uganda-born, Indian-origin Democrat defeated former state governor Andrew Cuomo in a landmark election that saw the highest voter turnout in decades. According to the Associated Press, Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa.

Following his victory, Mamdani shared a video on social media showing subway doors opening with the announcer saying, “The next and last stop is City Hall.” The post quickly went viral, symbolizing both his campaign’s connection with everyday New Yorkers and the city’s grassroots spirit.

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— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 5, 2025

A new chapter for New York, and a new first lady

New York City now welcomes a new mayor-elect, and with him, a new first lady. The 34-year-old state assemblyman, a self-described Democratic socialist, rose to prominence through a grassroots campaign focused on affordability and economic justice.

He has pledged to “transform the most expensive city in the United States of America into one that’s affordable to each and every person who calls it home.”

Mamdani’s rise in American politics has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to immigrant parents, he grew up in Manhattan, where he attended public schools and made his first,  albeit unsuccessful, attempt at student politics. Later, he graduated from a prestigious New England university before working as a housing counselor, focusing on tenant rights and affordability issues.

Zohran Mamdani is the son of Mira Nair, the acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker behind Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay!, and Mahmood Mamdani, a Ugandan academic of Indian descent renowned for his scholarship on colonialism and African studies. His father is part of the Khoja Twelver Shia community with ancestral roots in Gujarat, India.

Mamdani has often spoken about his multicultural identity, noting that he identifies as both “Asian” and “Black or African American” on official forms, reflecting his South Asian and African heritage.

According to Forbes (2025), Mamdani’s net worth is estimated between $200,000 and $300,000 (₹1.6–2.5 crore). Most of his assets come from family-owned land in Uganda, valued between $150,000 and $250,000. His annual salary as a New York State Assembly member stands at $142,000.

At just 34, Mamdani becomes New York City’s youngest mayor in over a century, as well as its first Muslim and South Asian leader. His historic victory marks a major shift in the city’s political landscape, signaling the growing influence of diverse, progressive voices in American politics.