By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist, is setting out to shake up the political establishment with his bid to become the next Mayor of New York City. Born in Uganda, Zohran’s early years were marked by a global upbringing. His father, a professor, took the family to Cape Town, South Africa, when Zohran was just five years old, and later to New York City at the age of seven when his father accepted a position at Columbia University. The diverse influences from Uganda to South Africa to New York City have helped shape Zohran into the progressive, community-oriented leader he is today.
Growing up in Morningside Heights and attending Bronx Science High School, Zohran’s early interests spanned from journalism to sports. He was an active participant in soccer and cricket, sports that have remained passions of his throughout his life. Yet, it was his passion for activism and organizing that took hold early in his career. His first job out of college was as a community organizer, where he managed a phone banking operation that reached over 30,000 people. It was there, as he worked with fellow organizers, that Zohran began to feel the pull of local politics.
“I always knew I was a New Yorker, but I didn’t know how my politics fit into New York,” Mamdani said, reflecting on his early political experiences and his inspiration from Bernie Sanders and other local community leaders.
After his time as an organizer, Zohran took brief stints working in film and music before diving into New York City politics. He soon joined the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, where he began to learn the intricacies of local politics. It was there that he honed his political beliefs, grounded in justice, solidarity, and fairness.
His advocacy work reached new heights when he served as a foreclosure prevention counselor, helping working-class and union residents avoid eviction, particularly within the South Asian community. By translating for many homeowners facing predatory lenders, Zohran grew acutely aware of the ways financial institutions and real estate developers exploit working families. This sense of responsibility to fight for those most affected by inequality would become central to his political agenda.
Zohran’s commitment to serving his community was further solidified when he ran for state assembly in 2019 in Astoria, Queens. “There was a sense that Astoria was leading the progressive way in Western Queens,” he said, explaining his decision to run. His deep belief in progressive politics and social justice led him to victory, and since becoming an assemblyman in 2021, he has worked tirelessly to fight for working-class New Yorkers.
One of Zohran’s most notable achievements came when he spearheaded the fight to help taxi drivers, who were trapped in a predatory debt scheme with medallion loans. With his leadership, a hunger strike was organized, and ultimately, the city agreed to forgive over $450 million in medallion debt.
“What I’m most proud of is fighting for working class New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “Everyone seemed to understand but no one did anything.”
Beyond his work on the taxi medallion debt crisis, Zohran is equally proud of securing over $100 million in state funding to increase subway service, as well as successfully implementing a fare-free bus pilot. His efforts to make public transit more accessible and equitable for New Yorkers are part of his larger vision for the city. Zohran has witnessed firsthand how the rising cost of living, particularly for transit fares, is burdening New Yorkers. He wants to change that.
“New Yorkers cannot afford public transit at a rate that is unacceptable,” Mamdani said. “We’re talking about one in five New Yorkers can’t afford a metro card, and there’s a regular hike in the cost of the fare.”
Mamdani understands that New Yorkers are looking for practical solutions to the daily challenges they face. “What do people want most? They want to know how their lives can become easier,” he said. For Mamdani, this means adopting an outcome-based approach to public transit. He emphasizes that New Yorkers deserve a system that works for them, one that provides real improvements in their daily commutes. As a regular subway rider himself, Mamdani sees firsthand the inefficiencies that plague the city’s transit system and is determined to make public transit faster, more affordable, and more reliable for everyone.
Zohran’s plan for the city’s transit system is just one example of how he intends to make life more affordable for New Yorkers. Housing, too, is a top priority. As mayor, he plans to freeze rent on all stabilized apartments and ramp up efforts to build 200,000 new units of permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized housing. His approach to housing goes beyond just increasing supply; Zohran believes in putting public dollars to work in a way that truly benefits New Yorkers, and not developers looking to profit off the backs of the working class.
“Ultimately, I want to use every breath I have in every single day of the campaign to talk about how I’m going to make the city more affordable,” Mamdani said.
But affordable housing isn’t the only way Zohran intends to help struggling families. Childcare costs are skyrocketing, and New York families are feeling the squeeze. According to Zohran, parents with children under six are leaving the city at double the rate of other New Yorkers. “This is a crisis that is driving people out of the city,” Zohran said.
Zohran Mamdani plans to implement free, high-quality childcare for every New Yorker aged 6 weeks to 5 years, ensuring that children receive the care they need and that parents, particularly mothers, are not forced to choose between a paycheck and raising their children.
Mamdani has been a strong advocate for better representation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities in demographic data, recognizing the critical need for accurate representation in policymaking. Working alongside local MENA organizations and fellow politicians, Zohran pushed for a bill to include MENA as a distinct category in census data. His efforts were instrumental in getting the bill passed, ensuring that this often-overlooked community now has a clearer voice in New York’s policy decisions and resource distribution.
Zohran has also launched a plan to address food insecurity by creating city-owned grocery stores that focus on keeping prices low, rather than maximizing profits.
The candidate’s ability to mobilize people is one of his standout qualities. Having raised over $3.8 million, knocked on 60,000 doors, and recruited 5,000 volunteers, Zohran’s grassroots campaign has become a force to be contended with. His innovative use of social media to engage voters—combining humor with realism to highlight the city’s everyday struggles—has made his campaign one of the most visible and accessible in recent memory.
“When you use social media, you can speak directly to New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, explaining his approach to social media in his campaign.
“It’s up to you to tell your story of what you’re fighting for.” Mamdani uses memes, videos, and viral stunts to communicate directly with his constituents. His social media reach has garnered over 7 million views in just a few months, showing his ability to break through the political bubble and connect with voters.
Mamdani has been critical of both Andrew Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams, emphasizing the need for fresh leadership in New York City. He believes that nostalgia for Cuomo’s early political strength is clouding voters’ judgment, pointing out that electing someone who perpetuated the same problems during his time in office won’t move the city forward.
“People forgot what he did. The early strength of Cuomo in polls is just nostalgia for Cuomo rather than his actual record,” Mamdani said.
Regarding Adams, Zohran criticized his failure to stand up for working-class New Yorkers, accusing him of not representing the city’s residents effectively.
Mamdani acknowledges that in politics, there are often “permanent enemies,” referring to entrenched interests that oppose progressive change. However, he emphasizes that the true goal is not personal conflict but achieving tangible outcomes for working people and residents. For him, the focus remains on fighting for the issues that directly impact the lives of everyday New Yorkers, such as affordable housing, accessible public transportation, and fair wages, regardless of political opposition.
This unique blend of political savvy, grassroots organizing, and deep empathy for New Yorkers has positioned Zohran as a strong contender for the mayor’s office. He emphasizes that the city’s challenges—rising rent, public transit issues, homelessness—cannot be solved with Band-Aid solutions. His vision for New York is one of long-term structural change, where public resources are used to meet the needs of the people, not to benefit the wealthy few.
As the election nears, Zohran Mamdani is focused on ensuring that New Yorkers understand one thing: his campaign is about outcomes, not just rhetoric.
“New Yorkers are hungry for a different kind of politics, a politics that doesn’t require translation,” Mamdani said.
