In an election night that could well mark a turning point in US political history, Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race last night and will become the 111th mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026.
“I am a Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And worst of all, I refuse to apologize for any of it.” These words resonated on Tuesday night in Brooklyn when Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City at the age of just 34.
But the radical proposals of New York’s newly elected mayor are generating as much enthusiasm as they are concern…
An unusual career path
Born on October 18, 1991, in Uganda, Zohran Mamdani arrived in New York at the age of seven after spending time in South Africa. He grew up in the American metropolis, resumed his studies at the Bronx High School of Science, and earned a bachelor’s degree in African studies from Bowdoin College in 2014.
Before diving into the political arena, he worked as an advisor to prevent property foreclosures. His political commitment then found its first political platform in 2020 : he was elected to the New York State Assembly for District 36, then re-elected unopposed in 2022 and 2024.
Mamdani then set his sights further afield and aimed for the mayoralty of New York City, announcing his candidacy in October 2024. A year later, he won against Andrew Cuomo (who had switched to independent) and Republican Curtis Sliwa. This victory was achieved in a context of more than 2 million ballots cast, the highest turnout since 1969 in such a race.
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