It's always a pleasure to hear Andrew Cuomo make up his own facts on the debate stage.
Zohran Mamdani's smile went almost from ear to ear. Then the 34-year-old turned serious.
We just heard a former governor say that our city has been destroyed by the state. Who ran the state? It was you – for ten years!
The heated exchange, in which Cuomo accused Mamdani of “never having accomplished anything” and being “unqualified,” took place during the final debate ahead of Tuesday’s mayoral election. Cuomo, who resigned as New York state’s governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, is running as an independent candidate after losing the party’s primary to Mamdani.
Battle for soul?
But both Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa look to have little chance against the left-wing Democrat. In almost all opinion polls published by The New York Times this fall, Mamdani has a double-digit lead. During the sprint, second-place Cuomo seems to have narrowed it down a bit, but Mamdani still leads by between 7 and 26 percentage points, depending on the poll.
So what is it that attracts people to Zohran Mamdani, why is he described as a rising star?
At a campaign rally last fall, he himself claimed that the political movement he leads has “won the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.” Others point to an unparalleled social media strategy, the display of a youthful optimism long-awaited in the United States, and the campaign’s focus on making it possible to live on a regular salary in New York.
Among the campaign promises are free buses, state-run price-gouging grocery stores and new housing, financed by tax increases for high-income earners. Former rap musician Mamdani has run an energetic campaign with the help of young door-knockers and often posts videos of himself walking around New York and talking to voters.
Criticized slogan
Despite the success, there is no shortage of criticism. The Muslim Mamdani, who was born in Uganda to Indian parents, has been criticized for his stance against Israel in the Gaza war, according to several media outlets. The criticism mainly concerns his previous refusal to condemn the slogan "globalize the intifada", which is sometimes heard at pro-Palestinian protests. Mamdani has said that the expression reflects Palestinians' "desperate desire for equality and equal rights", while critics, such as his party colleague and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, have claimed that the phrase is "blatantly anti-Semitic".
Mamdani himself denies all such accusations. He has promised to put an end to anti-Semitism and wants to increase funding for the city's anti-hate efforts by 800 percent.
However, he has backed away from statements from 2020 that the city's police are "racist and anti-queer" and that funding for police operations should be cut, according to The New York Times.
Born in Kampala, Uganda in 1991 to Indian, Muslim parents. His father is an academic, specializing in political science and anthropology, his mother is a filmmaker.
Lived in South Africa before the family moved to New York when the son was seven. Went to school in the Bronx and later earned a degree in Africana studies from Bowdoin College in Maine.
Has worked on housing issues in the borough of Queens and composed and produced rap music. In 2019 he released the single "Nani" under the artist name Mr Cardamom, now the single "Mamdani" is available on streaming services.
Became a US citizen in 2018. Married Syrian-American illustrator and artist Rama Duwaji earlier this year.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he has campaigned for local left-wing Democrats and ran for state Congress in 2020 for a district that includes Astoria, Queens. He won that seat and was re-elected in 2022 and 2024.
Launched his campaign to become mayor of New York in the fall of 2024.
Sources: nyassembly.gov, Time, The New York Times and more
