Zohran Mamdani Biography: Age, Net Worth, Parents, Wife, Career

Zohran Mamdani biography details the democratic socialist’s historic rise from Queens assemblyman to NYC’s youngest and first Muslim mayor-elect in November 2025.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani is an American politician who made history as the mayor-elect of New York City, becoming the youngest person to hold the office in over a century and the city’s first Muslim, first African-born, and first South Asian mayor.

Born on 18 October 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, the Zohran Mamdani biography is one of remarkable political ascent. In just over a year, he transformed from a relatively unknown Queens state assemblyman into one of America’s most prominent progressive politicians.

Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has served in the New York State Assembly representing the 36th district (Astoria and Long Island City) since 2021. In November 2025, he defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election, winning with over 50% of the vote.

His campaign focused on affordability issues affecting working-class New Yorkers, including proposals for fare-free buses, universal public childcare, a rent freeze on rent-stabilised units, city-owned grocery stores, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030. His savvy social media presence and grassroots organising attracted tens of thousands of volunteers and resonated particularly with young and first-time voters.

Mamdani comes from a distinguished family. His mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed filmmaker known for “Monsoon Wedding” and “Mississippi Masala”, whilst his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned postcolonialist academic at Columbia University. Before entering politics, Zohran worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counsellor and was briefly a rapper under the moniker “Mr. Cardamom”.

Zohran Mamdani Profile Summary

Early Life and Multicultural Upbringing

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on 18 October 1991 in Kampala, Uganda. His multicultural background reflects the diverse heritage of his distinguished parents.

Family Heritage

Zohran’s father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan of Indian descent and a highly respected political scientist and anthropologist. His mother, Mira Nair, is an Indian-born filmmaker whose work has garnered international acclaim.

The name “Kwame”—his middle name—reflects the Pan-African sensibilities of his parents, honouring Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana who played a central role in African independence movements.

Childhood in Uganda and South Africa

Zohran lived in Kampala until age five. In 1996, the family relocated to Cape Town, South Africa, after his father was appointed head of African studies at the University of Cape Town.

During the early post-apartheid years (1996–1998), young Zohran attended St. George’s Grammar School in Mowbray. This experience proved formative. He later reflected that living in Cape Town “taught me what inequality looks like up close… [and] that justice has to be more than an idea; it has to be material.”

Move to New York City

When Zohran was seven years old, the family moved to New York City, settling in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. Here, he would spend the remainder of his childhood and adolescence.

Despite his privileged upbringing—his mother was a successful filmmaker and his father a Columbia University professor—Zohran was acutely aware of economic disparities. He has described his upbringing as “privileged”, stating, “I never had to want for something, and yet I knew that was not in any way the reality for most New Yorkers.”

As a child, Zohran was frequently present on his mother’s film sets, beloved by crew members who gave him affectionate nicknames including “Z”, “Zoru”, “Fadoose”, and “Nonstop Mamdani”.

Zohran Mamdani Biography: Education

High School Years

Zohran attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, one of New York City’s elite specialised public high schools. During his time there, he demonstrated early leadership and community-building skills.

In a move that would foreshadow his political career, Zohran co-founded the school’s first-ever cricket team. The team went on to participate in the Public School Athletic League’s inaugural cricket season. This experience taught him, in his own words, “how coming together with a few like-minded individuals can transform rhetoric into reality.”

Bowdoin College

Zohran graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies. His choice of major reflected his deep interest in issues of colonialism, race, and social justice—themes that would later define his political career.

At Bowdoin, he co-founded the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, beginning his activism on Palestinian issues that would later become a significant aspect of his political identity.

Naturalisation as American Citizen

In 2018, shortly after graduating from college, Zohran became a naturalised American citizen. This milestone would prove essential to his political aspirations, as it made him eligible to run for and hold public office in the United States.

Career Before Politics

Foreclosure Prevention Counsellor

After college, Zohran worked as a foreclosure prevention and housing counsellor in Queens. This role would prove transformative in shaping his political consciousness and priorities.

In this position, he assisted lower-income immigrant homeowners facing eviction notices. He worked to help them navigate the complex process of dealing with banks and staying in their homes. Day after day, he negotiated with financial institutions that, in his words, “valued profits over people.”

This frontline experience with the housing crisis—which he emphasised predated the COVID-19 pandemic—convinced him that such crises were “not natural to our lives, but instead a choice” resulting from “decades of pro-corporate policies.”

The frustration and insights from this work directly motivated his decision to run for political office, where he believed he could address systemic issues more effectively.

Music Career: Mr. Cardamom

Before fully committing to politics, Zohran pursued music as a rapper under various names.

In 2017, under the name “Zohran Kwame”, he released the song “Salaam”, which celebrated Muslim identity in New York. The song would later become controversial during his mayoral campaign, with critics arguing some lyrics were too extreme.

In April 2019, under the moniker “Mr. Cardamom”, he released the single “Nani” (meaning “grandmother” in Hindi). The song was an homage to his grandmother and featured actress and food writer Madhur Jaffrey in the music video. The video paid tribute to Jaffrey and New York’s South Asian culture.

During his 2020 Assembly campaign, Mamdani good-humouredly described himself as a “B-list rapper.” The song “Nani” experienced a revival during his 2025 mayoral campaign, finding a vastly wider audience as his political profile grew.

Political Career and Rise to Prominence

Early Political Involvement

Zohran’s entry into New York City politics began in 2015 when he volunteered for Ali Najmi’s campaign in the special election for the 23rd district of the City Council. He was inspired to join after learning Najmi was supported by Heems, a New York rapper of Indian descent and co-founder of alternative hip-hop group Das Racist.

In 2017, Mamdani joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Part of his motivation was the DSA’s pro-Palestine stance, which aligned with his activism.

That same year, he worked on the campaign of Khader El-Yateem, a Palestinian Lutheran minister and democratic socialist running for New York City Council from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Campaign Work

Zohran gained valuable campaign experience through several roles:

Ross Barkan Campaign (2018): Served as campaign manager for Barkan’s unsuccessful bid for the New York State Senate.

Tiffany Cabán Campaign (2019): Worked as a field organiser for Cabán’s close-run but ultimately unsuccessful campaign for Queens County District Attorney.

These experiences gave him crucial insights into grassroots organising and campaign strategy that would serve him well in his own future campaigns.

New York State Assembly (2020–2025)

In October 2019, Mamdani announced his campaign to represent New York’s 36th State Assembly district, encompassing Astoria and Long Island City in Queens.

Endorsed by the DSA, he ran on a platform of:

• Housing reform
• Police and prison reform
• Public ownership of utilities

In November 2020, Mamdani won the election, defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Aravella Simotas in the primary. He took office in January 2021.

His victory made history: he became the first South Asian man to serve in the New York State Assembly, the first Ugandan, and only the third Muslim ever to be a member of the body.

Legislative Achievements

During his tenure in the Assembly, Mamdani compiled notable achievements:

Taxi Driver Debt Relief: He participated in a hunger strike alongside taxi drivers, helping achieve more than $450 million in transformative debt relief for medallion owners crushed by predatory lending.

Transit Improvements: Won over $100 million in the state budget for increased subway service and successfully advocated for a fare-free bus pilot programme.

Environmental Victory: Organised New Yorkers to defeat a proposed dirty power plant that would have worsened air quality in his district—which already had the most polluted air in Queens.

2025 New York City Mayoral Campaign

Campaign Announcement and Platform

In October 2024, Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election. At the time, he was a state assemblyman unknown to most New York City residents.

His campaign focused on an affordability-centred platform:

Housing:

• Rent freeze on rent-stabilised units
• Construction of additional affordable housing units

Transit:

• Fare-free city buses

Childcare and Education:

• Universal public childcare

Food Security:

• City-owned grocery stores to combat high food prices

Workers’ Rights:

• $30 minimum wage by 2030

Taxation:

• Tax increases on corporations and those earning above $1 million annually

He also expressed support for LGBTQ rights and comprehensive public safety reform.

Viral Social Media Campaign

Mamdani’s campaign became known for its savvy social media strategy, particularly on TikTok and Instagram.

One of his most memorable videos tackled “halal-flation”—the rising cost of street food. He interviewed street meat vendors about the high cost of running a food cart in New York City, explaining how an arcane permit system contributed to prices.

His campaign manager, Elle Bisgaard-Church, recalled filming on “one of the coldest nights of the year” near Wall Street, with Mamdani asking passersby, “Would you rather pay $10 or $8 for halal?” Despite repeated rejection, “it never fazed him.”

These videos helped cast him as an authentic, relatable candidate focused on working-class concerns.

Democratic Primary Victory

In June 2025, Mamdani won the Democratic primary, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in what was widely seen as a stunning upset.

Cuomo, 67, was the son of three-term New York Governor Mario Cuomo and had himself served as governor from 2011 until his 2021 resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations and questions about his administration’s handling of nursing home deaths during COVID-19.

Mamdani won the primary by 12 percentage points, shocking the political establishment. His victory was attributed to:

• His grassroots organising (tens of thousands of volunteers)
• Appeal to young and first-time voters
• Viral social media presence
• Focus on cost-of-living issues

General Election Victory

In the November 2025 general election, Mamdani faced:

• Andrew Cuomo (running as an Independent after his primary loss)
• Curtis Sliwa (Republican)

New York’s traditional power brokers—real estate developers, business leaders, and financial interests—rallied against Mamdani, warning he would drive wealthy residents away and discourage businesses. However, this opposition helped Mamdani frame the election as “a fight between working-class people and billionaires.”

On election night, Mamdani won decisively with over 50% of the vote. Voter turnout exceeded 2 million—the first time since 1969.

In his victory speech, he quoted Eugene Debs, a socialist who ran for president five times: “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.”

He promised “the most aggressive affordability agenda since Fiorello La Guardia” and declared, “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”

Zohran Mamdani Biography: Historic Firsts and Significance

Mamdani’s election represents multiple historic firsts:

First Muslim Mayor: He is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, significant in a city with a substantial Muslim population.

First African-Born Mayor: Born in Kampala, Uganda, he is the first mayor born in Africa.

First South Asian Mayor: He is the first mayor of South Asian (Indian) heritage.

First Indian-Ugandan Mayor: His specific heritage as Indian-Ugandan is unprecedented.

Youngest Mayor in Over a Century: At 34, he is the youngest person to be elected mayor of New York City since John Purroy Mitchel in 1913.

First DSA Member as Mayor: He is the first Democratic Socialists of America member to lead a major American city.

His victory has been seen as evidence that progressive, pro-Palestine candidates can win in major American elections when they combine digital campaigning with focus on economic issues.

Personal Life: Wife, Marriage and Relationships

Marriage to Rama Duwaji

Zohran Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist, in 2025. The couple met on the dating app Hinge.

After winning the Democratic primary in June 2025, Mamdani took a honeymoon vacation to Uganda to celebrate his wedding before returning to campaign for the general election.

Residence

The couple lives in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens, the same area Mamdani represented in the State Assembly. This residence connects him to his constituents and the working-class communities central to his political message.

Family Relationships

Zohran maintains close relationships with his parents. His mother, Mira Nair, and father, Mahmood Mamdani, have been present at significant campaign events, including attending church services with him during the final days of the 2025 campaign.

Parents: Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani

Mother: Mira Nair

Mira Nair (born 1957) is an acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker known for directing:

• “Salaam Bombay!” (1988) – Nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
• “Mississippi Masala” (1991) – Starring Denzel Washington
• “Monsoon Wedding” (2001) – Won Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival
• “The Namesake” (2006) – Based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel
• “Queen of Katwe” (2016) – Disney film about Ugandan chess prodigy

Her work often explores themes of cultural identity, immigration, and the diaspora experience—themes that clearly influenced her son’s worldview.

Father: Mahmood Mamdani

Mahmood Mamdani (born 1946) is a Ugandan academic of Indian descent. He is the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and Professor of Anthropology at Columbia University.

He is considered one of Africa’s leading postcolonialist scholars and has written extensively on:

• Colonialism and its aftermath
• Political violence
• African political systems
• The politics of knowledge

His books include “Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism” and “When Victims Become Killers: Colonialism, Nativism, and the Genocide in Rwanda.”

Mahmood Mamdani’s intellectual work on colonialism, power, and justice has clearly influenced Zohran’s political philosophy and his emphasis on structural inequality.

Political Positions and Policies

Economic Policy

Mamdani’s economic platform focuses on addressing affordability:

• $30 Minimum Wage: Phased implementation by 2030
• Tax the Wealthy: Increased taxes on corporations and individuals earning over $1 million
• City-Owned Grocery Stores: Pilot programme to address food costs
• Rent Freeze: For rent-stabilised apartments

Housing

Housing has been central to Mamdani’s politics since his days as a foreclosure prevention counsellor:

• Rent freeze on rent-stabilised units
• Construction of additional affordable housing
• Tenant protections

Transit

His transit proposals include:

• Fare-free city buses
• Increased subway service
• Investment in public transportation infrastructure

Public Safety

Mamdani’s approach to public safety has evolved. In 2020, he posted about “defunding” the NYPD, and in other posts called the department “racist.”

During his mayoral campaign, he moderated this rhetoric, publicly apologising to NYPD officers. He now advocates for “comprehensive public safety reform” whilst acknowledging the need for effective policing.

He has proposed a “Department of Community Safety” as part of his approach to public safety reform.

Palestine and Foreign Policy

Mamdani has been a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights since co-founding his college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.

He has stated he would honour an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu visited New York. The Israeli foreign ministry has called Mamdani a “mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda.”

This position has been controversial, particularly given New York’s large Jewish population, though Mamdani has emphasised his opposition to antisemitism.

Controversies and Criticisms

Political Positions

“Defund the Police” Posts: His 2020 social media posts calling to “defund” the NYPD and describing the department as “racist” became campaign issues. He apologised to officers during the 2025 campaign.

Pro-Palestine Stance: His strong advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel has drawn accusations of extremism from some quarters.

Socialist Label: Critics, including President Trump, have called him a “communist” and warned he would harm New York’s economy. Trump threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won.

Experience Questions

Critics have pointed to Mamdani’s relative inexperience—just four years in the State Assembly—and questioned whether he can deliver on his ambitious progressive agenda given political and structural constraints.

Andrew Cuomo’s Warnings

In his concession speech, Cuomo warned of “antisemitism and lawlessness” and said New York was “headed down a dangerous, dangerous road” under Mamdani’s leadership.

Transition and Incoming Administration

Transition Team

Following his election, Mamdani appointed transition leadership:

Transition Co-Chairs:

• Grace Bonilla (nonprofit leader)
• Melanie Hartzog (city budget and social service expert)
• Lina Khan (former Federal Trade Commission chair)
• Maria Torres-Springer (housing and economic development leader)

Transition Executive Director: Elana Leopold (political strategist)

Key Appointments

First Deputy Mayor: Dean Fuleihan

• New York City’s most experienced budget director
• 40+ years of city and state management experience
• Formerly First Deputy Mayor and Budget Director under Mayor Bill de Blasio
• Guided city through pandemic recovery

Chief of Staff: Elle Bisgaard-Church

• Served as Mamdani’s Chief of Staff in the State Assembly
• Campaign Manager for his mayoral campaign
• Key architect of innovative policy proposals

Public Interest

Less than a week after launching a resume portal, 50,000 people applied to join the Mamdani administration—demonstrating enormous public interest in his government.

Net Worth and Financial Status

Zohran Mamdani’s net worth is estimated at $1–2 million.

His wealth derives primarily from:

• His family background (both parents are successful professionals)
• His salary as a state assemblyman
• Any earnings from his music career

Unlike many politicians, Mamdani has not emphasised personal wealth accumulation. His campaign focused on taxing the wealthy and addressing economic inequality.

His financial disclosure forms as an assemblyman would provide more specific details about his assets and income sources.

Awards and Recognition

While Mamdani has not accumulated traditional awards, his recognition includes:

• Historic Electoral Victory: First Muslim, first African-born, first South Asian mayor of New York City
• DSA Endorsement: Endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America for both Assembly and mayoral campaigns
• Progressive Icon Status: Regarded as one of America’s most prominent young progressive politicians

Social Media Presence

Mamdani maintains active social media accounts that were central to his campaign success:

Instagram: @zaboraborazohran Twitter/X: @ZohranKMamdani TikTok: Active presence with viral videos

His social media strategy combined:

• Policy explainers (like the “halal-flation” video)
• Street interviews with New Yorkers
• Behind-the-scenes campaign content
• Upbeat, authentic personal interactions

This approach helped him connect with younger voters and build a devoted online following.

Conclusion

The Zohran Mamdani biography traces an extraordinary political journey—from childhood in post-apartheid Cape Town to becoming the mayor-elect of America’s largest city at age 34.

His rise from unknown Queens assemblyman to defeating a former governor demonstrates the power of grassroots organising, social media savvy, and a message focused on working-class concerns. In an era when many progressive candidates struggle to win beyond safe liberal enclaves, Mamdani’s victory suggests that bold economic populism can resonate broadly.

His historic firsts—as the first Muslim, first African-born, and first South Asian mayor of New York City—represent the changing demographics of American cities and the political power of diverse coalitions.

Yet Mamdani faces enormous challenges. Critics question whether his ambitious agenda—free childcare, rent freezes, city-owned grocery stores—can be implemented given political and budgetary constraints. His relative inexperience and some controversial positions will face intense scrutiny.

His background gives him unique perspective: the son of a Ugandan-Indian academic and an Indian filmmaker, raised across three continents, shaped by witnessing inequality in post-apartheid South Africa, and motivated by helping immigrant homeowners face eviction in Queens.

Whether Mamdani can translate his campaign promises into effective governance will determine his legacy. But regardless of his mayoral tenure’s success, his 2025 campaign has already reshaped conversations about what’s possible in American progressive politics.

As he told supporters on election night, quoting Jawaharlal Nehru: “A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new.” For better or worse, New York City has stepped into that new moment with Zohran Mamdani.

FAQs About Zohran Mamdani Biography

Q1: How old is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani was born on 18 October 1991, making him 34 years old as of 2025. He is the youngest person elected mayor of New York City in over a century.

Q2: What is Zohran Mamdani’s net worth?
Zohran Mamdani’s net worth is estimated at $1–2 million, derived from his family background, legislative salary, and music career.

Q3: Who are Zohran Mamdani’s parents?
His mother is Mira Nair, the acclaimed filmmaker known for “Monsoon Wedding” and “Mississippi Masala”. His father is Mahmood Mamdani, a renowned postcolonialist academic and professor at Columbia University.

Q4: Is Zohran Mamdani married?
Yes, Zohran Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist, in 2025. The couple met on the dating app Hinge and live in Astoria, Queens.

Q5: Where was Zohran Mamdani born?
Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda. He lived there until age five, then in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New York City at age seven. He became a naturalised American citizen in 2018.

Q6: What political party does Zohran Mamdani belong to?
Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He identifies as a democratic socialist.

Q7: What was Zohran Mamdani’s job before politics?
Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a foreclosure prevention and housing counsellor in Queens, helping lower-income immigrant homeowners avoid eviction. He was also briefly a rapper under the name “Mr. Cardamom”.

Q8: What are Zohran Mamdani’s main policy positions?
His key policies include fare-free buses, universal public childcare, a rent freeze on rent-stabilised units, city-owned grocery stores, a $30 minimum wage by 2030, and tax increases on corporations and high earners.

Q9: What historic firsts does Zohran Mamdani represent?
Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, first African-born mayor, first South Asian mayor, first Indian-Ugandan mayor, and youngest mayor in over 100 years.

Q10: Who did Zohran Mamdani defeat in the 2025 mayoral election?
Mamdani defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an Independent) and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 2025 general election. He had previously defeated Cuomo in the June 2025 Democratic primary.