Who is Zohran Mamdani? New York City's Mayoral candidate proposes free child care, rent relief, and tax hikes for rich

With just a day to go until New York City's pivotal Democratic mayoral primary, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is generating buzz as a progressive candidate, pushing a bold left-wing agenda and rising from relative obscurity to challenge the high-profile comeback bid of former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

At just 33, Mamdani has positioned himself as the face of a new political generation — one focused on lowering the city's cost of living, expanding social services, and challenging the status quo. His campaign got a major boost with an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called him “the strongest to lead the pack,” citing his grassroots coalition of working-class New Yorkers.

Still, Mamdani faces an uphill battle against Cuomo’s well-financed campaign and deep name recognition. Cuomo has secured the backing of major unions and used the first televised debate to attack Mamdani’s limited government experience, dismissing his record as “three bills in 27 minutes of service.”

From Kampala to Queens

Mamdani’s personal story is central to his appeal. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he moved to New York City at age 7. He’s the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani. After becoming a US citizen and graduating from college, he helped found his university’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter — signaling early political engagement that would later shape his platform.

Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, Mamdani represents parts of Queens and is best known legislatively for championing a pilot program offering free city buses. His mayoral platform expands on that vision, calling for free child care, rent freezes, new affordable housing, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Progressive darling, but polarising views

Mamdani’s platform and identity — he would be New York City’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor — have earned him strong backing from younger, progressive voters. But his self-identification as a democratic socialist, and his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, could alienate more moderate Democrats and the city’s influential Jewish electorate.

During the first debate, Mamdani said Israel “has the right to exist” but “as a state with equal rights for all,” a stance that may deepen skepticism among centrist voters. He has also made headlines for saying he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he visited the city, citing an ICC war crimes warrant.

The challenge: Name recognition

Despite growing momentum, Mamdani remains unknown to many voters. He acknowledged in a campaign video that “a third of New Yorkers still haven’t heard of us” — a vulnerability he frames as an opportunity for growth.

At a recent housing rally, Mamdani received a standing ovation for his speech. Yet, even among voters critical of both Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, his name is still catching on.

Adams, facing political headwinds after a federal corruption probe (which the Trump administration later dropped), has opted to run as an independent in the general election, skipping the Democratic primary entirely.

Coalition politics

Mamdani insists that his campaign can bridge the city’s ideological divides. “There is no ideological majority in New York City,” he told the Associated Press. “If you speak to the people directly about issues they care about, such as the sky-high cost of living, you can successfully build a coalition.”

With the June 24 primary looming, Mamdani is betting on his grassroots network, social media presence, and populist messaging to propel him past a crowded field — and unseat one of New York's most well-known political figures. Whether that’s enough to overcome Cuomo’s name recognition and institutional backing remains to be seen.