Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the son of Ugandan scholar Prof. Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, has been elected Mayor of New York City, the largest city in the United States. His victory marks a historic moment, as he becomes both the first Muslim and youngest person in more than a century to lead the city.

The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The results were announced early Wednesday morning (around 6 a.m. Uganda time) after nearly all votes were counted.

Mamdani rose to prominence as a New York State Assembly member representing Queens, campaigning on progressive ideas focused on housing affordability, public transport subsidies, child-care support, and taxing the ultra-wealthy. His platform aimed at easing the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, energized younger and more diverse voters across the city.

Though considered an outsider by establishment figures in both major parties, Mamdani’s message of economic fairness and social justice resonated widely. He has described himself as a “Democratic Socialist,” arguing that the wealthiest should contribute more to sustain essential services for ordinary citizens.

Despite skepticism from traditional political circles and heavy spending by rival candidates backed by business interests, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign prevailed. Analysts say his win reflects a growing appetite for transformative policies in one of the world’s most unequal cities.

Mamdani’s parents, both prominent in academia and the arts, have deep ties to Uganda. Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, a leading political theorist and historian, currently teaches at Columbia University in New York. 

As New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani faces high expectations and scrutiny from across the political spectrum. His election symbolizes not only a generational and ideological shift in American urban politics but also a powerful moment of representation for immigrant and Muslim communities across the United States.