Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old, Indian-origin Muslim man is en route to becoming the next mayor of New York City. He was born in the East African nation of Uganda. He is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, and academic Mahmood Mamdani. He moved to New York City at the age of seven, and became a naturalised US citizen in 2018. This quintessential immigrant is the frontrunner for the New York mayoral election, scheduled for November 4.

It isn’t a done deal yet. Mamdani is just leading the Democratic Party’s nomination for mayoral candidate. The final results of that will be out next week. And even after he wins the candidacy, which all signs are pointing to, he will still have to win the November election. But New York is an overwhelmingly Democratic city, which is what makes Mamdani the frontrunner.

So how did this millennial State Assemblyman, a relative unknown till a few months ago, take on the entrenched power structures of the Democratic Party, and come out on top? His social media feed offers a clue.

His campaign was based on ground support. He interacted with people on the streets. And conveyed his campaign promises in a unique, relatable manner. Mamdani promised to freeze rents in New York, the largest and most expensive city in the US. He promised free bus rides, government-owned grocery stores and a host of other populist measures. He reached out to working-class New Yorkers, and they have rewarded him with the mayoral candidacy.

Mamdani also had another message that seemed to resonate with a lot of Democratic voters. He has been uncompromising about his support for Palestine, and those detained for supporting Palestine. His opponents tried to weaponise this against him, calling him antisemitic and anti-Israel. But he didn't waver from his stance. He said that he believes Israel has the right to exist, but it also has responsibilities under international law. Responsibilities that he believes Israel, and their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have abdicated.

His stance has been in direct contrast to the entrenched Democratic Party position. But at least in New York, it seems to have resonated with the Democratic Party’s voter base. Mamdani is part of the growing cohort of progressive, socialist-leaning Democrats. They believe that the old guard’s status quo politics and policies are driving away Democratic supporters. Mamdani’s victory points to a new way, possibly a new future for America’s Democratic Party. But will the old guard take the hint?

democratic party

The rise of New York’s Zohran Mamdani | Learnings for the US Democratic Party

democratic party

The rise of New York’s Zohran Mamdani | Learnings for the US Democratic Party