Zohran Mamdani emerges frontrunner as New York City gears up for mayoral election

New York City is set to elect its next mayor on Tuesday, with 34-year-old Zohran Kwame Mamdani, an Indian-origin lawmaker and democratic socialist, emerging as the frontrunner in one of the most closely watched races in the United States.

The New York State Assembly member, born in Uganda and raised in Queens, is running on a progressive platform that promises to make life more affordable in a city he says has become “too expensive for ordinary New Yorkers.”

A HIGH-STAKES THREE-WAY CONTEST

Mamdani, who defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June, will face Cuomo – now contesting as an independent – and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election.

The race follows a tumultuous tenure of Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the contest in September amid multiple corruption probes. The Board of Elections said more than 735,000 voters cast ballots early, nearly four times the 2021 figure, underscoring strong turnout.

MAMDANI'S PITCH: AFFORDABLE LIVING, PUBLIC SERVICES

Mamdani’s campaign has focused on lowering living costs, expanding public housing, and improving city services. He has pledged to freeze rents for all stabilized tenants, expand affordable housing construction, and make all city buses fare-free and faster through priority lanes and better traffic management.

He also plans to introduce free childcare for all children aged six weeks to five years and create a network of city-owned grocery stores to keep food prices low.

“Mamdani has a plan to bring down the cost of living through city-owned grocery stores, universal childcare, and other bold proposals – and he knows exactly how to pay for it,” his campaign said.

TRUMP AND OBAMA WEIGH IN

US President Donald Trump criticised Mamdani during an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, calling him a “communist” and warning that New York would “waste money” under his leadership.

Former President Barack Obama, however, reportedly called Mamdani on Saturday, describing his campaign as “impressive to watch” and offering to serve as a “sounding board” if he wins, according to The New York Times.

FAMILY, FAITH AND COMMUNITY BACKING

Mamdani is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani. Over the weekend, a community group called Hindus for Mamdani organised a prayer gathering in his support, offering blessings ahead of election day.

Speaking at the event, Nair said her son’s campaign “is not for one community or one faith, but for all New Yorkers – for a city that holds every colour, every tongue, every prayer within its generous embrace.”

“As his mother, I’ve watched him walk this path with grace and grit and humility,” she said, adding that she hoped his leadership would bring “a new dawn” to the city.

- Ends

With agency inputs