Zohran Mamdani has created history after winning the Democratic party nomination for New York City Mayor.
According to BBC, after counting most of the ballots, 95% , the first-ever Muslim to run for NYC mayor, Mamdani, has defeated Andrew Cuomo by winning 43% of the votes, while the former governor has won 36% of the votes.
Mamdani told supporters, “Tonight, we made history. In the words of Nelson Mandela, It always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.”
The 33-year-old’s victory over Cuomo, who stepped down as governor in 2021 following sexual harassment accusations, highlights the political shift in the city.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani, who served as a member of the New York State Assembly, was born in Uganda in 1991. At the age of seven he moved to New York with his family and attended Bronx High School of Science. He has a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College.
The American politician also co-founded the student organisation Students for Justice in Palestine at his college campus.
Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, who is a Syrian artist in Brooklyn. His father, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, is a teacher, while mother Mira Nair is a famous film director. Both Mr and Mrs Mamdani are Harvard graduates.
Before joining politics, he worked as a housing counsellor in Queens and helped low-income families at risk of eviction.
Notably, if elected, Mamdani would be the first Muslim and a South Asian mayor of New York City.
