New York City — Zohran Mamdani has secured a landmark victory in the New York City mayoral race, declaring the end of what he called a “political dynasty.” Addressing jubilant supporters, Mamdani said voters had given him a clear mandate to build a city where “everyone can make a living” and where hope remains alive.
The mayor‑elect highlighted the coalition of communities that powered his campaign from Yemeni shopkeepers and Senegalese taxi drivers to Uzbek nurses and Ethiopian families.
“This victory belongs to the more than 100,000 volunteers who turned this campaign into an unstoppable force,” he told the cheering crowd.
Mamdani also addressed his opponent, Andrew Cuomo, wishing him well in his personal life but making it clear that their political rivalry had ended.
Turning to national politics, Mamdani delivered a pointed message to U.S. President Donald Trump:
“To get to one of us, you have to go through all of us.” His remarks drew thunderous applause, while Trump responded on his social media platform, writing cryptically: “…and it has begun.”
Alongside Mamdani, his wife Rama Dowaji has also drawn attention. A 28‑year‑old Syrian‑American artist and animator, she often uses her work to highlight issues in the Middle East. The couple, who met on a dating app, married earlier this year. During his speech, Mamdani affectionately referred to her as “Hayati” Arabic for “my life.”
Mamdani’s personal story has resonated internationally. Born in Uganda in 1991 to Indian parents, he moved to the United States as a child and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. His mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, has long been a prominent cultural figure, but Mamdani’s rise has now placed her in the role of “the mayor’s mother.”
His campaign drew comparisons to Barack Obama’s historic presidential run, though Mamdani is not eligible for the White House under current U.S. law, which requires presidents to be natural‑born citizens.
Observers in India have closely followed his journey, noting that his victory speech echoed Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous address at the dawn of Indian independence. As he left the stage, the Bollywood anthem Dhoom Macha Le played, a symbolic nod to the global resonance of his win.
With his election, Zohran Mamdani has become a new face of leadership in New York, promising a bold vision for the city’s future and a politics rooted in unity, diversity, and hope.