Mamdani’s historic win signals new era for Indian Americans in US politics

New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. With this victory, he is set to make history as the city’s first Muslim, first Indian American and first South Asian mayor, heralding a new era of Asian American representation.

Less than a year ago, Mamdani, 33, was largely unknown to most New Yorkers outside his Queens assembly district. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, he moved to New York at age 7 and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. His mother, Mira Nair, is a director known for acclaimed films such as “Monsoon Wedding” and “The Namesake,” while his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor of anthropology at Columbia University.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in Africana studies from Bowdoin College in Maine, Mamdani worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor, which inspired his entry into politics. First elected to the state assembly in 2020, his notable legislative work includes advancing a pilot program that made select city buses free for a year. He also spent some time as a rapper, performing under the moniker Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom.

As the projected new leader of the nation’s most populous city, Mamdani has drawn significant attention, including that of President Donald Trump who called him a “100% Communist Lunatic” in a post on his Truth Social platform. On the other hand, Mamdani declared himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare” in his final debate with Cuomo.

Mamdani’s campaign overcame Cuomo’s significant financial advantage through grassroots organizing and digital outreach. He created campaign videos in Hindi and Bangla, appealing to South Asian communities where he performed strongly. At present, New York City is home to around 200,000 Indian Americans and 100,000 Bangladeshi Americans.

Unsurprisingly, Mamdani’s win has prompted anti-Muslim backlash. Posts predicting terrorist attacks and questioning his loyalty have spread on X, despite his U.S. citizenship. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, one of the administration’s key figures in its anti-immigration policy, posted, “NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration.” Meanwhile, far-right activist Laura Loomer warned, “There will be another 9/11 in NYC and @ZohranKMamdani will be to blame.” The NYPD’s hate crimes unit is now investigating multiple threats, including voicemails with violent content directed at him.

Despite the criticism, Mamdani’s progressive agenda appealed to voters concerned about New York’s high cost of living. His proposals to cap rents, eliminate bus fares and establish city-run grocery stores — funded through higher taxes on wealthy residents — helped him secure 43.5% of first-choice votes compared to Cuomo’s 36.4% by Tuesday night.

Mamdani’s victory has intensified national discussions about the Democratic Party’s direction. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of his top endorsers, praised the outcome as evidence Democrats should prioritize working-class concerns over wealthy interests. However, moderate Democrats reportedly worry that his progressive positions, including his democratic socialist identification, could risk electoral prospects.

For some Indian Americans, Mamdani’s success presents both celebration and complexity. While many view it as a breakthrough, some social media users joke about increased parental expectations, with posts referencing the pressure young South Asian men now face to achieve similar success by age 33. Meanwhile, his sharp criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “war criminal” has generated widespread attention and debate in India.

Mamdani now faces a November general election against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent after federal indictment, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo could also run again as an independent.