Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani may become the first Muslim president of the New York Chamber
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Through Nelson Mandela’s words, this was the main message of the 33 -year -old Democrat who is moving politics in the United States. Zohran Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, was the protagonist of one of the biggest events in the running race for the New York City Hall after winning the democratic party’s primaries against Andrew Cuomo.
His adversary, millionaire, a man of influences and one of the most prominent figures among the Democrats, sought back to political life, but, still with the final results for ascertaining, that it is expected to be known early next week, he has already taken defeat. “Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won,” said Cuomo on Wednesday
Mamdani stressed that he was able to raise many private donations and his campaign against power, made essentially on social networks, where he is followed by more than two million people and through which he was able to create a connection with the younger population.
The hitherto unknown candidate has scaled the world of politics very fast. In order to raise the quality of life of New Yorkers, their measures are essentially based on increasing taxes on the richest, freezing, day care centers, betting on public grocery stores, accessible housing and free transport. These were some of the ideas carried out by Mamdani during his campaign that helped him become a political phenomenon in New York.
In addition to this, Mamdani also made his pro-Palestinian position clear, referring to Israel’s military action in Gaza as “genocide.”
Mandami opponents consider the young politician’s goals unrealistic, stating that they are not prepared to face the challenge. Mandami argues that he does not have Cuomo’s “corruption, scandal and misfortune experience, and that this can be an added value in his political life.
The candidate was also the target of criticism within the party, as the Financial Times writes, citing a New York Democratic stratega, which says that “Zohran is not the future of the Democratic Party”: “He is trafficking dreams and, when not being able to realize them, people will be even more unhappy with politics.”
But even though some democrats consider Mamdani too radical, the young politician’s victory may serve as a model for the party at national level at a time when Kamala Harris’s defeat in last year’s presidential presidentials is still.
Donald Trump, by the way, has already demonstrated his discontent to Mamdani’s victory in primaries by nicknamed him of “100% communist lunatic” and claiming that “democrats have crossed the boundary.” Trump also added that Mandami “has a horrible look,” a “annoying voice” and “is not very intelligent.”
Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and is the son of parents with Indian descent. He lived in Cape Town, South Africa, and at age 7 he moved with his family to New York. He attended Bronx Secondary School and later graduated in African studies at Bowdoin College, Maine, where he contributed to the founding of the Students Association for Justice in Palestine.
He collaborated in the campaigns of some Democratic candidates in Queens and Brooklyn, even working closely at Queens with residents who were dumped from their dwellings.
In 2020 he was first elected to the New York Assembly, a position he held for several years. Currently lives in the Astoria Zone, in Queens, with his wife Rama Duwaji.
Municipal elections are scheduled for November. If you win, Mamdani will be not only the first Muslim president of the New York Chamber, but also the youngest to reach the position.
