Indian-American politician Zohran Mamdani has defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for the New York City mayoral race, setting the stage for a major political shift.

Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman and progressive candidate, beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, June 24. Cuomo, once a frontrunner, secured just 36.4% of the vote and conceded defeat. Mamdani celebrated with a promise to bring change:

“I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you,” he said. “We can be free and we can be fed. We can demand what we deserve.”

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Mamdani, 33, was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Mahmood Mamdani, a renowned academic, and Mira Nair, a well-known Indian filmmaker. He moved to New York at age 7 and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He holds a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College and previously worked to help low-income families avoid eviction.

In his Assembly profile, Mamdani shows his identity and mission:

“Zohran is proud to be the first South Asian man to serve in the NYS Assembly... the first Ugandan and only the third Muslim to ever be a member of the body."

What does he stand for?

Mamdani is a democratic socialist and has gained support from national figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His platform includes:

  • Rent control

  • Caps on grocery prices

  • A 2% tax on the top 1% income earners (those earning over $1 million)

His campaign was driven by strong grassroots volunteers and viral short videos on social media. One popular clip explained voting using Bollywood references and Hindi/Urdu. Mamdani calls this strategy:

“The politics of no translation... when you speak directly to the crises that people are facing, with no intermediaries.”

Mamdani vs Cuomo

Cuomo, a former governor, hoped to make a political comeback after resigning in 2021 due to multiple sexual harassment allegations. With NYC Mayor Eric Adams facing corruption charges and running as an independent, the Democratic field was wide open.

Cuomo criticised Mamdani for his lack of experience and his support for Palestine, which he claimed was anti-Semitic. Mamdani, when asked about visiting Israel, responded:

“As mayor, I will be standing up for Jewish New Yorkers... at their synagogues and temples or in their homes or at the subway platform.”

Meanwhile, Mamdani hit back at Cuomo’s corporate donors and record-breaking $25 million in attack ads, which were not enough to stop Mamdani’s momentum.

Though the final results will be declared after July 1, Mamdani currently holds a strong lead in the ranked-choice voting system, which lets voters rank up to five candidates in order of preference.

The winner of this Democratic primary will face:

  • Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa

  • Independent candidate Eric Adams

In the November mayoral election. Cuomo has said he may still run as an independent.

A bigger picture for US politics

If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Indian-American and first Muslim mayor. His win could reflect rising support for progressive policies in America, especially among young, working-class, and non-White voters.