Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani
Mamdani in 2025
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 36th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byAravella Simotas
Personal details
Born
Zohran Kwame Mamdani

(1991-10-18) October 18, 1991[1][2]
Kampala, Uganda
CitizenshipUganda
United States (since 2018)[3]
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
Spouse(s)
Rama Duwaji
(m. 2025)
MotherMira Nair
FatherMahmood Mamdani
EducationBowdoin College (BA)
Signature
WebsiteMayoral campaign website
Assembly campaign website
State Assembly website

Zohran Kwame Mamdani (born October 18, 1991) is an American politician. He has been a member of the New York State Assembly for the 36th district since 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. He is the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in the 2025 election.

2025 mayoral campaign

In 2024, Mamdani announced his candidacy for Mayor of New York City in the 2025 mayoral election. If elected, Mamdani would be New York's first Muslim mayor.[4] His campaign has been supported by progressive activists and leaders such as U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.[5]

In June 2025, Mamdani won the Democratic nomination, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in an upset victory.[6]

Personal life

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, into a family of Indian descent.[7] When he was five, Mamdani and his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa.[7] His family moved to New York City when Mamdani was seven.[7]

Mamdani graduated from the Bank Street School for Children, and then the Bronx High School of Science.[8] Mamdani attended Bowdoin College in Maine.[9]

In 2018, Mamdani became an American citizen. He is a Shia Muslim.[10][11][12] He married to Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji in early 2025.[13]

References

  1. "New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani - Biography". LegiStorm.
  2. Kitunzi, Yahudu (June 7, 2025). "Mamdani's mayoral goal puts Uganda on the map". Monitor.
  3. Mays, Jeffery C. (2025-06-03). "In N.Y.C. Mayor's Race, Mamdani Responds to a Call for His Deportation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  4. Coltin, Jeff (2025-06-04). "Anti-Israel attacks keep antisemitism a top issue in the NYC mayoral race". Politico. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  5. Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (2025-06-17). "Bernie Sanders Endorses Zohran Mamdani for N.Y.C. Mayor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  6. "Cuomo concedes in NYC mayoral primary, Mamdani poised for upset victory". NBC26.com. June 25, 2025.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Izaguirre, Anthony (June 5, 2025). "Can Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, become the next mayor of New York City?". ABC News.
  8. Saltonstall, Gus (March 26, 2025). "Before Zohran Mamdani Made Waves in NYC's Mayoral Race, He Was A Kid Growing Up On the UWS". West Side Rag. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  9. Sorkin, Emma (November 1, 2019). "Taking a stand: alumni run for office, with Bowdoin in mind". The Bowdoin Orient. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  10. Shoki, William (February 9, 2020). "Roti and Roses for All". Jacobin. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  11. @ZohranKMamdani (November 26, 2019). "Got mad love for my Ismaili's but I'm actually Ithna-Asheri 😊" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. Osman, Nadda (November 6, 2020). "US elections 2020: Muslim American candidates who made history". Middle East Eye. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  13. Craighead, Olivia (May 12, 2025). "Zohran Mamdani Hard-Launched His Wife". The Cut. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.

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