All you need to know about Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in New York mayoral election | World News
New York City voters head to polling booths on Tuesday to elect their next mayor, capping off a turbulent race that has pitted Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani against independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.Since his unexpected victory in the Democratic primary, the 34-year-old democratic social has worked to broaden his appeal beyond his progressive base, seeking to ease concerns among moderates over his past criticism of Israel’s government and his earlier calls to defund the police.
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Here are seven things to know about Zohran Mamdani to get you up to speed on Tuesday’s election:
Zohran Mamdani Ethnicity: Mamdani’s ethnicity in focus
Zohran Mamdani is of Indian descent, born in Kampala, Uganda, to filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, an Ugandan academic who was born in Mumbai. He personally identifies as both “Asian” and “Black or African American” on official forms, pointing to his South Asian and African heritage. His father is from the Khoja Twelver Shia community with roots in Gujarat, India.
Zohran Mamdani Net Worth: How much does Mamdani earn every year
Mamdani’s net worth is estimated between $200,000–$300,000 as of 2025 (approximately Rs 1.6 crore to Rs 2.5 crore), according to a report Forbes. Most of his assets come from land in Uganda valued between $150,000–$250,000, and his annual salary as a New York State Assembly member is about $142,000.
Zohran Mamdani Parents: The son of filmmaker and professor
His mother is Mira Nair, an acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker known for works like “Monsoon Wedding” and “Salaam Bombay!”
His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a prominent academic specialising in African studies, colonialism, and human rights, currently a professor at Columbia University.
What are polls saying about Zohran Mamdani’s election results?
Zohran Mamdani is currently the frontrunner in the 2025 New York City mayoral race. Multiple reputable polls have him leading ahead of his closest rival, Andrew Cuomo, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing further behind.
As of Election Day, Mamdani is leading in both early and live polls, with figures consently placing him above 40% support among likely voters, a recent Atlas poll suggested.
Mamdani had about a six-point edge over Cuomo and a 16-point advantage over Sliwa.
Zohran Mamdani’s religion: A practicing Muslim with roots in India
Mamdani is a practicing Muslim and part of the Khoja Shia sect, a community with roots in India. His open embrace of his faith has drawn both support and Islamophobic attacks during the campaign.
Zohran Mamdani’s Wife: The hinge date turned life partner
Zohran Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American art, animator, and illustrator. They met in 2021 via the dating app Hinge, got engaged in 2024, and married in February 2025.
Duwaji was born in Houston, raised partly in Dubai, and is known for staying out of the political spotlight and actively supporting digital aspects of Mamdani’s campaign.
Mamdani on Modi: ‘Room for certain kinds of Indians’
Mamdani has publicly criticised Prime Miner Narendra Modi and the BJP, advocating for a pluralic and inclusive vision of India and condemning sectarianism. He has made statements at public events and within the Indian-American community.
Mamdani said, “So, I have been critical of Mr. Modi because of the vision that I grew up with was of an India that was pluralic, an India where everyone belonged, no matter their religion.”
The New York’s mayoral candidate further added, “And my critique has been of Mr. Modi and the BJP political party for their vision of an India that only has room for certain kinds of Indians, and it’s part of a belief that pluralism is something to be celebrated, something to be strived for.”
