Unapologetically Yours: Dissecting Mamdani’s Path to Historic Victory in New York City

A year ago, no one knew him. Since then, he has run a successful campaign, convincing the most populous city in the U.S. and one of the most diverse cities in the world that he can represent them despite his complicated identity. He doesn’t fit neatly into the American racial, ethnic, and class categories. He was born in Africa but moved to the U.S. when he was 7. He grew up in an affluent family with successful parents of Indian descent. He is only 34. He is a Muslim. And he is a self-described Democratic Socialist. He never shied away from any of these identities; yet, the one he chose to emphasize above all others is that he is a New Yorker. This is one of the main reasons why the people of New York City elected Zohran Mamdani as the new mayor last week. 

How did he do it? 

He Heard the New Yorkers 

Mamdani conducted an elaborate outreach effort and asked what their top concerns were. In a city exhausted from rising house rents, stagnant wages, and a lack of hope for better days, residents shared their main concerns, and Mamdani listened. He posted these conversations on social media, which helped shape his list of policy proposals —housing rent freeze, free buses, universal childcare, and a few city-owned grocery stores for food deserts. Instead of talking in platitudes, he explained how he would implement them. This, in turn, resonated with the financial anxieties of thousands of New Yorkers, significantly expanding his electorate. He particularly energized younger voters, especially those eager for generational and ideological change, who were frustrated with Democratic centrism that seemed too weak to address their concerns about increasing inequality in the city: his charisma, clear articulation, joyful messaging, and ambition motivated voters from every social stratum. This earned him a massive army of volunteers, making grassroots campaigning a possibility without relying heavily on billionaire funders. 

He had Tough Conversations 

Mamdani’s history of anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activism has cost him Jewish votes. However, he still retained some Jewish supporters (around one-third), especially among younger generations, who see his overall stance as less critical than his domestic policies on affordability and housing. After his victory, he said that he would stand with the New York Jewish community to fight against antisemitism, whether or not they voted for him. 

Mamdani is a pragmatist, and this is evident in his evolution on policy issues and the overtures he has made to institutional and business interests. He significantly shifted his public stance from his 2020 calls to “defund” or “dismantle” the NYPD as well. He stated he would maintain the department’s budget and publicly committed to apologizing to police officers for calling the department “racist.” Mamdani has already confirmed that he will ask Jessica Tisch, the current commissioner of the New York Police Department, to stay, as she has been instrumental in reducing crime and has the confidence of New Yorkers across the political spectrum.

Mamdani will remain under close scrutiny throughout his tenure, both because of his identity, which initially made New Yorkers skeptical of him, and the extensive media attention his campaign has received. 

His campaign promise of making New York City more affordable comes with a price tag of $10 billion and could reshape the Big Apple’s economy. It hinges on raising taxes on millionaires and hiking corporate tax rates, which he will not be able to do alone; he will need the support of the state lawmakers and the governor. Mamdani knows that he will not be able to sustain his hold and power by alienating the rich. So, he is ready to explore alternative funding and also offers a new housing plan that would bring about a regulatory change, increasing construction in the city and boosting the builders.  

He Embraced His Identity

Mamdani also showed the electorate that he would not cower in the face of vitriol that has been coming his way throughout the campaign. Across the country, as crackdowns on immigrants have engendered a sense of panic among minority communities, Mamdani, the first Muslim Mayor of New York City and an immigrant from Uganda, has decided to embrace his identity unapologetically. Every aspect of his identity has been subject to public scrutiny during this election. Last week, the Center for Study of Organized Hate published a report highlighting the surge in Islamophobic comments online between July and October, most of which labelled Mamdani as an extremist or terrorist. Still, he refused to diminish any part of his identity. Instead, he brought the South Asians, who had previously been on the political margins, into the limelight by launching his campaign early and engaging with Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, and Sikh gurdwaras.  

The Path Ahead

Pulling off his plan for the city will not be easy for Mamdani. The euphoria his election has sparked is similar to how the whole country felt when Obama became the first Black President. Still, our understanding of history warns us that Obama was not permitted to implement his plans, as he did not maintain the coalition that helped him win, eventually becoming a more distant politician. Although he cared about policy, Obama was hesitant to engage in the political battles that are necessary for successful and sustainable policy. Luckily, the mayorship is different from the presidency. 

A Mayor’s scope and responsibilities are much more limited, and in a way, that’s a boon.  

Aside from managing a hostile White House, Mamdani must prepare for legislative battles in Albany. Governor Hochul has voiced her support for him, but since she is running for re-election next year, she will be cautious about raising taxes that could upset large segments of voters she needs to win statewide. Additionally, he will remain under close scrutiny throughout his tenure, both because of his identity, which initially made New Yorkers skeptical of him, and the extensive media attention his campaign has received. 

A Challenge But Also an Opportunity

If you are wondering why a mayoral race has grabbed so many eyeballs, you have to understand the significance of a city like New York. Urban scholar and author Neal Pierce observed a decade ago that national economies no longer exist; instead, only a global economy and a “constellation of regional economies, with major cities at their core.”

The significance of this race lies in its symbolic meaning, as it reflects the future of American politics and serves as a test for the Democratic Party’s direction. As we can see, for the new generation of voters, socialism is no longer a taboo word in the U.S. It is also accepted now that capitalism is not the panacea it was once claimed to be; it has its limitations and pitfalls, and to balance this, a dose of socialist welfare is necessary, primarily to support the working poor. 

The opportunity for Mamdani is that he is not burdened by a long past, which his political opponents unsuccessfully tried to use against him during the campaign. When he is inaugurated on January 1, he will have the chance to build his political history from scratch.

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Sreya Sarkar is a public policy analyst based out of Boston. She is the author of the novel “Beneath the Veneer” published last year.