In a groundbreaking political shift, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani has emerged as the Democratic nominee for mayor after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a closely watched primary on June 24. His victory has set the stage for what could be a historic moment: the election of New York’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor.

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, pulled ahead in the ranked-choice voting system with 43.5% of the vote, edging out Cuomo, who garnered 36.4%. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander came in third with 11.3%, and his supporters’ redistributed votes proved pivotal to Mamdani’s win.

Backed by progressive heavyweights like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign drew on a network of 22,000 volunteers. Despite being underdog in polls, his team’s relentless organizing flipped the odds.

Born to renowned intellectual Mahmood Mamdani and award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair, Zohran represents Astoria in the State Assembly and has built a reputation as an advocate for housing and public services. His platform is ambitious: fare-free public buses, a rent freeze, municipal grocery stores, and the creation of a Department of Community Safety to reimagine public safety.

He also champions universal childcare and expanded free school meals, proposing higher corporate taxes and a millionaire’s surcharge to fund these initiatives.

Mamdani’s personal life reflects his multicultural identity. He recently married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American illustrator whose work has been featured in The New Yorker, BBC, and The Washington Post. She holds a master’s in illustration from New York’s School of Visual Arts.

His stance on international issues has sparked controversy. Mamdani has openly condemned Israeli military operations in Gaza, describing them as “genocide,” and voiced support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He also drew fire for defending the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan while simultaneously denouncing antisemitism and enduring Islamophobic threats.

Mamdani will now face Republican Curtis Sliwa on November 4. Given New York’s overwhelming Democratic voter base, Mamdani appears well-positioned to become the next mayor, signaling a generational shift in urban leadership.