Zohran Mamdani: What to know about the Democrat
Zohran Mamdani, a socialist candidate in the New York City mayoral race, holds dual U.S. and Ugandan citizenship. Born in Uganda and raised in South Africa, Mamdani moved to New York City at age 7. A Muslim, he transitioned from making rap music to pursuing a career in politics and is married to Rama Duwaji.
His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Columbia University professor affiliated with an organization that supports boycotts of Israel. Zohran Mamdani co-founded Students for Justice in Palestine at Bowdoin College, where he wrote articles advocating for an academic boycott of Israel.
Despite controversy surrounding his Columbia University application and SAT scores, Mamdani is running on a progressive platform that includes a citywide rent freeze, taxpayer-funded childcare and “fast and free” public buses. He also pledges to address gun violence, hate crimes and homelessness.
As part of his housing policy, Mamdani proposes allowing the city to take control of properties from negligent landlords. His broader economic agenda includes raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030, redirecting tax funds to open city-owned grocery stores and expanding hate violence prevention funding by 800%. His campaign aims to build a more equitable New York City.
