A mayor of many firsts: From first Muslim to youngest mayor — What makes Zohran Mamdani's victory historical

Zohran Mamdani scripted history on Tuesday (local time) — and not just for one reason. The 34-year-old Democrat became the first Muslim, first Indian-origin, first South Asian and the youngest-ever mayor of the New York City. In the election, which drew over two million voters, Mamdani defeated Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and former governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani's victory solidifies a generational and ideological shift in America's largest city — long seen as the citadel of capitalism — now to be led by a self-declared democratic socialist.

"The next and last stop is City Hall," Mamdani posted on X after his win — a symbolic nod to his new journey as the mayor.

The 'firsts' that redefined NYC politics

• First Muslim and first South Asian mayor: A milestone for inclusivity in one of the world's most diverse cities.
• First Indian-origin and youngest mayor: At 34, Mamdani ushers in a new generation of leadership rooted in activism, not establishment politics.

His campaign: Lower costs, fairer city

Running on the slogan of making New York “affordable again,” Mamdani pledged sweeping reforms:

• Freeze rents for all stabilized tenants and expand affordable housing.
• Fare-free public buses, faster service, and better infrastructure.
• Free childcare for every New Yorker aged six weeks to five years.
• City-owned grocery stores to fight rising food costs.

His campaign argued that "government can lower costs and make life easier" — positioning Mamdani as a mayor for working-class New Yorkers squeezed by the city's soaring cost of living.

From Kampala to City Hall: The rise of Zohran Mamdani

Born in Kampala, Uganda, to acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran moved to New York at age seven and became a US citizen only in 2018. A graduate of Bowdoin College with a degree in Africana Studies, he co-founded his school’s first cricket team — a small but telling preview of his boundary-breaking streak.

Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counsellor, helping low-income homeowners stave off eviction — an experience that shaped his views on inequality. His first political break came in 2020, when he won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing Queens’ Astoria and Ditmars-Steinway neighbourhoods.