Who is Zohran Mamdani? Indian-origin democrat on course to become New York City Mayor

Mamdani, the first South Asian man in the New York State Assembly, ran a progressive campaign focused on affordability and social programs. Cuomo's concession signals an end to his attempted political comeback.

New York: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has conceded the Democratic primary for New York City mayor to Zohran Mamdani. "Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night, and he put together a great campaign, and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote, and he really ran a highly impactful campaign." Cuomo said, adding that he called and congratulated Mamdani.

Mamdani leads the first-choice votes with about 44 per cent support, followed by Cuomo, who has received approximately 36 per cent votes. New York City will have to wait for at least a week or possibly longer to find out who ultimately has secured victory in the Democratic nomination through the city's ranked choice tabulations; however, Cuomo made clear to his supporters he believed the clock was running out on his comeback bid. 

Under ranked choice voting in the city, voters rank up to five candidates according to their preference on their ballot. Support for the candidates who receive the lowest support is then reallocated to those voters' next choices, and the process continues until there are two candidates left. The city Board of Elections plans to release the results of those initial allocations next Tuesday. However, based on how many mail-in and provisional votes still need to be counted, it could take longer to see who the winner is. 

The wait was expected to be longer as the 11-candidate field was splitting Democratic votes. The ranked choice system can encourage low-polling candidates to stay in as they know their supporters' choices can still be taken into account if they fall short, according to NBC News report. If Mamdani continues to be ahead during the ranked choice voting allocation and ultimately wins the Democratic nomination, he may not have fully vanquished Cuomo. He has created his party and could run in the general election on that party's ballot line. Cuomo has not yet given an indication that he was preparing for a general election bid.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani is the son of acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. Born in Uganda, Indian-American Mamdani is the first South Asian man to serve in the New York State Assembly, the first Ugandan, and the only third Muslim ever to be a member of the body. If elected, Mamdani (33) would be the city's first Muslim mayor. He has gained support in the closing weeks of the race as he has presented a progressive vision for the city. 

His election campaign has focused on tackling higher costs, promising to freeze rents and offer free buses, universal childcare and other progressive policies that would be paid for in part by raising taxes on the rich. He has become the focal point for an anti-Cuomo movement that has been united under the banner of "Don't rank Cuomo," stressing that he does not deserve a successful political comeback after resigning from office in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations, NBC News reported. 

Zohran Mamdani has also been able to reach cross-endorsement deals with fellow candidates, including city Comptroller Brad Lander and former DNC vice chair Michael Blake. He also received support from Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Working Families Party, and Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders. State Attorney General Letitia James has asked supporters to include Mamdani on their ranked-choice ballots.

Mamdani’s victory over a high-profile, well-funded figure like Cuomo signals a dramatic shift in the city’s political landscape—away from establishment centrism and toward a more diverse, left-wing coalition. If elected in November, Mamdani would not only become the city’s first Muslim mayor but also its first mayor of Indian origin, marking a historic milestone in representation for New York's large South Asian community. His campaign, backed by figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, has been framed as a referendum on affordability, equity, and a new generation of leadership in one of the world’s most iconic cities.

(with inputs from ANI)