Change for the Big Apple: Zohran Mamdani elected New York’s first Muslim Mayor

New Delhi, Nov 5: Zohran Mamdani, 34, has made history by winning the New York City mayoral election, becoming the first Muslim to lead the largest city in the United States.

The progressive Democrat and self-described democratic socialist secured just over half of the total votes counted, which is more than a million votes, according to international media reports.  Mamdani, who was little known only months ago, surged to prominence with promises to tax millionaires and expand public services.

His campaign focused on affordable housing, free public transport, and universal childcare, themes that resonated with working-class and immigrant voters.

In his victory speech, Mamdani spoke about rebuilding trust and unity in a city divided by inequality and political fatigue.

He pledged to make New York “a light in dark times,” signalling his intention to confront both economic and social challenges head-on.

He also used the occasion to challenge President Donald Trump, vowing that the city which “gave rise to him” would now stand as a symbol of resistance and renewal.

The 34-year-old’s rise to the city’s top job marks several firsts as reported by the international media.

He will be New York’s youngest mayor in more than a century, its first Muslim leader, and the first mayor of African birth.

Born in Uganda and raised in New York, Mamdani is the son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani.

Mamdani defeated Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent contender Andrew Cuomo, a former New York governor and scion of a powerful political family.

Trump had endorsed Cuomo just a day before the election and had warned he would consider cutting federal funding to the city if Mamdani won. BBC’s North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher noted that Mamdani’s victory was part of a broader trend of Democratic gains across the country, with the party also victory in Virginia and New Jersey. Analysts described the results as a strong night for Democrats, indicating renewed voter confidence a year after their national defeat. Some Republicans expressed alarm. BBC cited House Speaker Mike Johnson as saying that the outcome underscored what he called a shift in the Democratic Party toward “radical” left-wing politics. Despite such criticism, Mamdani’s supporters see his victory as proof that grassroots organising, diversity, and inclusive policies can triumph in one of America’s most complex political landscapes