Zohran Mamdani elected as first Muslim Mayor of New York

Zohran Mamdani has made history in New York, the largest city in the United States. The South Asian-origin Muslim politician has been elected as the city’s first Muslim mayor.

His victory has drawn global attention and marked a new chapter in Democratic politics, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday, November 5.

According to the report, Mamdani made history by taking leadership of a city with a population of over 8.4 million. He became the first Muslim, South Asian-origin, and Africa-born individual to hold this position in New York.

The 34-year-old politician was a member of the New York State Assembly. Although he was scheduled to give a speech at a victory celebration at Brooklyn Paramount Theatre on Tuesday night, he thanked his supporters on Monday, saying, “Because of you, history has been made in this city today.”

Voters in the ethnically and religiously diverse city see Mamdani’s win as a symbol of progress. However, his supporters say it is not about religion or ethnicity, but rather about his focus on real issues like reducing the cost of living, which resonated with the public.

Al Jazeera reported that this election has also become a reflection of the Democratic Party’s future direction in the United States. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo represented the old guard influenced by wealthy donors, while Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, represented the new generation of progressive thinking.

While casting his vote on Tuesday, Cuomo said, “This is a kind of civil war within the Democratic Party. The socialist-led far left is now challenging the centrists.”

Lucy Cordero, aged 68, said, “We’ve seen Cuomo — he wasn’t good. Mamdani is new, young; maybe he can bring some change.”

Megan Marks, a 52-year-old freelancer from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, said, “Mamdani’s stance is more left-leaning than mine, but given the state of the country, we need a leader with his perspective. I supported him because we have nothing to lose.”

However, President Donald Trump announced his support for Cuomo just hours before voting began. The move was intended to unite conservative voters but is believed to have backfired.

Ifthekhar Khan, a Bangladeshi-origin driver, said, “The unity among Muslim and South Asian voters was Mamdani’s greatest strength. Considering how Muslims faced discrimination after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, his victory marks a new beginning for us.”