On June 25, 2025, Zohran Mamdani made history. He won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. This victory was a big surprise. It showed his growing popularity. Zohran, a 33-year-old politician, is now set to become the city’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if he wins the general election in November 2025. His journey is inspiring. It is a story of hard work, passion, and a strong desire to help people. This article tells you about Zohran Mamdani’s life, his work, and his dreams for New York City.
Early Life and Family
Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991. He was born in Kampala, Uganda. His parents are well-known people. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a famous professor. He teaches at Columbia University. His mother, Mira Nair, is a talented filmmaker. She made movies like *Monsoon Wedding* and *Salaam Bombay!*. Zohran’s family has Indian roots. His father is from Gujarat, and his mother is from Punjab. They are both proud of their heritage. Zohran’s middle name, Kwame, comes from Kwame Nkrumah. He was the first president of Ghana. This name shows his family’s love for African history.
When Zohran was five, his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa. His father got a job at the University of Cape Town. Zohran went to St. George’s Grammar School there. Life in South Africa was different. It shaped Zohran’s view of the world. He saw how people lived in different places. At seven, his family moved again. This time, they went to New York City. They settled on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Zohran became an American citizen in 2018. His early life was full of change. It taught him to adapt and understand different cultures.
Education and Early Interests
Zohran grew up in New York City. He went to the Bronx High School of Science. It is a well-known school. He was a bright student. He loved sports too. In high school, he started the school’s first cricket team. This was a big achievement. The team joined the Public School Athletic League. This showed Zohran’s leadership skills. He learned how to bring people together. He also wrote long posts on Facebook about his ideas. But he wanted to do more than just write.
After high school, Zohran went to Bowdoin College in Maine. He studied Africana Studies. This subject taught him about African history and culture. He also started a group called Students for Justice in Palestine. This showed his interest in fairness and equality. He graduated in 2014. His education gave him a strong foundation. It helped him understand the world better. He wanted to use this knowledge to help others.
Zohran Mamdani Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Religion, Wife, Ethnicity,
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zohran Kwame Mamdani |
| Date of Birth | October 18, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Kampala, Uganda |
| Parents | Father: Mahmood Mamdani (Professor at Columbia University) Mother: Mira Nair (Filmmaker, known for Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay!) |
| Heritage | Indian (Father from Gujarat, Mother from Punjab) |
| Middle Name Origin | Kwame, after Kwame Nkrumah, first president of Ghana |
| Early Life | - Moved to Cape Town, South Africa at age 5 - Attended St. George’s Grammar School - Moved to New York City at age 7 - Settled on Upper West Side, Manhattan - Became U.S. citizen in 2018 |
| Education | - Bronx High School of Science, New York - Started school’s first cricket team - Bowdoin College, Maine (Graduated 2014) - Studied Africana Studies - Founded Students for Justice in Palestine |
| Early Career | - Worked as a housing counselor in Queens, New York - Helped low-income families avoid eviction - Fought against unfair bank practices |
| Music Career | - Hip-hop artist under names Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom - Released EP Sidda Mukyaalo with Ugandan rapper HAB - Released song Nani (2019) about his grandmother - Worked on music for Queen of Katwe (his mother’s film) |
| Political Start | - Volunteered for Ali Najmi’s City Council campaign (2015) - Joined Democratic Socialists of America (2017) - Supported campaigns of Khader El-Yateem and Tiffany Cabán |
| State Assembly Career | - Elected to NY State Assembly (36th District, Queens) in 2020 - First South Asian man and Ugandan in this role - Third Muslim in State Assembly - Re-elected in 2022 and 2024 - Key actions: - 15-day hunger strike for taxi driver debt relief (2021) - Secured $450 million for taxi drivers - Got $100 million for better subway service - Stopped a dirty power plant - Focused on affordable housing, free transit, and clean air |
| Mayoral Campaign | - Announced run for NYC mayor in October 2024 - Won Democratic primary on June 25, 2025 (43.5% votes) - Beat Andrew Cuomo (36.4% votes) - Campaign focused on: - Free city buses - Public childcare - City-owned grocery stores - $30 minimum wage by 2030 - Taxing big companies and wealthy people - Supported by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
| Personal Life | - Married to Rama Duwaji (Syrian-American artist) in 2025 - Met on Hinge dating app - Proud Muslim, visits mosques - Made campaign video in Urdu |
| Beliefs | - Democratic socialist - Believes in equality and affordability - Vocal about global issues, including Palestinian rights |
| Challenges & Criticism | - Criticized for lack of experience - Passed only three bills, says Andrew Cuomo - Rent freeze plan criticized by The New York Times - Views on Israel caused controversy - Attacked by Canary Mission for family’s views |
| Achievements | - First Muslim and Indian-American Democratic nominee for NYC mayor - Youngest major candidate for mayor - Raised $8 million from small donors - Built campaign with thousands of volunteers |
| Future Goals | - Aims to become NYC mayor in November 2025 - Wants to make New York affordable and fair for all |
A Career Before Politics
Before entering politics, Zohran worked as a housing counselor. He helped people in Queens, New York. Many of these people were low-income families. They faced eviction from their homes. Zohran worked hard to help them stay. He talked to banks and fought for these families. This job was tough. It showed him how unfair the system could be. Banks often cared more about money than people. This made Zohran angry. It also inspired him to do more. He wanted to change the system.
Zohran was not just a counselor. He was also a hip-hop artist. He used the name Young Cardamom and later Mr. Cardamom. He made music with a Ugandan rapper named HAB. They released an EP called *Sidda Mukyaalo*. It means “No going back to the village” in Luganda. In 2019, he released a song called *Nani*. It was about his grandmother. The famous actress Madhur Jaffrey was in the music video. Zohran also worked on his mother’s film, *Queen of Katwe*. He helped with the music. His work in music showed his creative side. It also helped him connect with people.
Entering Politics
Zohran’s work as a housing counselor changed his life. He saw how hard life was for many people. He decided to enter politics. In 2015, he volunteered for a City Council campaign. He worked for Ali Najmi. In 2017, he joined the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He helped other candidates too. He worked for Khader El-Yateem and Tiffany Cabán. These experiences taught him about campaigns. He learned how to talk to voters.
In 2019, Zohran decided to run for office. He wanted to represent the 36th district in the New York State Assembly. This district includes Astoria and Long Island City in Queens. He ran against Aravella Simotas. She had been in office for four terms. Zohran’s campaign was about housing, police reform, and public utilities. He won the Democratic primary in 2020. This was a big upset. He became the first South Asian man and the first Ugandan in the State Assembly. He was also the third Muslim ever in this role. Zohran was proud to represent his community.
Work in the State Assembly
Zohran started working as an Assembly member in 2021. He fought for the people of Queens. He wanted to make life better for them. He introduced many bills. Some were about affordable housing. Others were about free public transit. He also worked on taxi driver debt relief. In 2021, he went on a 15-day hunger strike. This was to help taxi drivers who had big loans. His efforts worked. The city gave $450 million to help these drivers. Zohran also helped get $100 million for better subway service. He stopped a dirty power plant from being built. These actions showed his commitment to people.
Zohran was re-elected in 2022 and 2024. He faced no opposition. People trusted him. He worked hard to make housing affordable. He also fought for clean air and fair treatment. His work made him popular. Many people saw him as a leader who cared.
Running for Mayor
In October 2024, Zohran announced he would run for mayor of New York City. This was a bold move. He was not well-known to many New Yorkers. But he had big ideas. His campaign was about making life affordable. He wanted free city buses. He also wanted public childcare and city-owned grocery stores. Zohran believed in taxing big companies and rich people. This would pay for his plans. He also wanted a $30 minimum wage by 2030. His ideas were bold. They excited young voters and progressives.
Zohran’s campaign grew fast. He used social media like TikTok. His videos went viral. He talked about his plans in simple ways. He also got support from big names. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him. They called him a visionary. Zohran raised $8 million from small donors. He had thousands of volunteers. His campaign was different. It was about people, not big money.
On June 25, 2025, Zohran won the Democratic primary. He beat Andrew Cuomo, a former governor. This was a big surprise. With 96% of votes counted, Zohran had 43.5%. Cuomo had 36.4%. The final results will come in July. But Zohran’s lead is strong. He is now the Democratic nominee for mayor.
Personal Life and Beliefs
Zohran is married to Rama Duwaji. She is a Syrian-American artist. They met on the dating app Hinge. They got married in 2025 at the NYC Clerk’s office. Rama’s art has been in *The New Yorker* and *The Washington Post*. Zohran is proud of his Muslim faith. He visits mosques and speaks about his beliefs. He made a campaign video in Urdu. This showed his connection to his community.
Zohran is a democratic socialist. He believes in equality. He wants a city where everyone can live well. He is also vocal about global issues. He has criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. This has caused some controversy. Some people call him too extreme. But Zohran rejects these claims. He says he fights for fairness.
Challenges and Criticism
Zohran’s rise has not been easy. Some people say he lacks experience. Andrew Cuomo said Zohran only passed three bills. Critics like *The New York Times* say his plans are too big. They think his rent freeze could harm housing supply. Others question his views on Israel. A group called Canary Mission attacked his family. They criticized his parents’ views. But Zohran stays strong. He says he will fight for all New Yorkers.
Looking Ahead
Zohran Mamdani is a new kind of leader. He is young, bold, and caring. His life story is unique. He was born in Uganda, lived in South Africa, and grew up in New York. His parents taught him to care about the world. His work as a housing counselor showed him people’s struggles. His music and organizing skills helped him connect with others. Now, he is ready to lead New York City.
If Zohran wins in November 2025, he will make history. He will be the first Muslim and Indian-American mayor. He will also be one of the youngest. His plans are big. He wants to make New York affordable and fair. He faces challenges, but his passion is clear. Zohran Mamdani is a name to remember. His story is just beginning.