Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City , capping a stunning ascent for the 34-year-old state lawmaker, who is set to become the city’s most liberal mayor in generations. In a victory for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He must now navigate the unending demands of America’s largest city and deliver on ambitious — critics say unrealistic — campaign promises. 

Democratic Assembly member Mamdani has twice defeated Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as governor in the face of sexual harassment allegations, in New York City’s mayoral race. With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on January 1st. 

Mamdani’s unlikely rise gives credence to Democrats who have urged the party to embrace more progressive, left-wing candidates instead of rallying behind centrists in hopes of winning back swing voters who have abandoned the party. He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party. 

The contest drove the highest turnout in a mayoral race in more than 50 years, with more than two million New Yorkers casting ballots, according to the city’s Board of Elections. Mamdani’s grassroots campaign centred on affordability, and his charisma spoiled Cuomo’s attempted political comeback. The former governor, who resigned four years ago following allegations of sexual harassment that he continues to deny, was dogged by his past throughout the race and was criticised for running a negative campaign. 

There is also the question of how he will deal with Trump, who threatened to take over the city and to arrest and deport Mamdani if he won. Mamdani was born in Uganda, where he spent his early childhood, but was raised in New York City and became a US citizen in 2018. Mamdani, who was criticised throughout the campaign for his thin résumé, will now have to begin staffing his incoming administration before taking office next year and determine how he plans to accomplish the ambitious but polarising agenda that drove him to victory. 

Among the campaign’s promises are free childcare, free city bus services, city-run grocery stores and a new Department of Community Safety that would send mental health care workers to handle certain emergency calls rather than police officers. It remains unclear how Mamdani will pay for such initiatives, given Democratic governor Kathy Hochul’s steadfast opposition to his calls to raise taxes on wealthy people.

 His decisions around the leadership of the New York Police Department will also be closely watched. Mamdani was a fierce critic of the department in 2020, calling for “this rogue agency” to be defunded and labelling it “racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety.” He has since apologised for those comments and said he will ask the current NYPD commissioner to remain in post. Mamdani’s campaign was driven by his optimistic view of the city and his promises to improve the quality of life for its middle and lower classes. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)