Zohran Mamdani's Historic Win: First Indian-American to Lead NYC

Indian-origin politician Zohran Mamdani has made history by securing a landslide victory in the 2025 New York City mayoral election. Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary held on Tuesday, June 24, in a significant political upset.

Under the ranked-choice voting system, Cuomo garnered only 36.4% of the vote, while Mamdani maintained a consistent lead throughout the counting process, ultimately emerging as the frontrunner.

Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to renowned academic Mahmood Mamdani and celebrated Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. The Mamdani family moved to New York when he was just seven years old. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018 and holds a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a social worker, advocating for underprivileged communities.

He first entered the political spotlight in 2020 by winning a seat in the New York State Assembly, becoming the first South Asian and the first person of Ugandan origin to do so. Throughout his tenure, he has been a strong advocate for the Muslim community and other marginalized groups.

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani focused on addressing the city’s housing crisis, vowing to tackle soaring rent prices. He has proposed progressive taxation policies targeting the wealthiest one percent to fund initiatives for affordable housing and public welfare. His campaign was endorsed by prominent left-wing leaders such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

If his victory is officially confirmed in November’s general election, Mamdani will become the first Indian-American and the first Muslim to serve as mayor of New York City. Political analysts have hailed his win as a landmark moment for the Democratic Party and for minority representation in U.S. politics.