Mamdani's political upset inspires hope among South Asian, Muslim New Yorkers

Zohran Mamdani's rise has sparked hope among many of New York City's more than 300,000 South Asian residents.

For comedian Hari Kondabolu, who has been friends with Mamdani for 15 years, the candidate's success in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary feels like a personal victory.

"My mom was texting her friends to vote for him. I've never seen my mother do that before," Kondabolu shared. "So the idea that it's gotten our whole family activated in this way — this is, like, personal."

Mamdani shocked the city's political establishment on Tuesday when he claimed victory in the primary, a ranked choice election where his main opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, ultimately conceded.

When Mamdani launched his campaign, the democratic socialist was considered a long shot. Now, the 33-year-old state assemblyman stands poised to become New York City's first Asian American and Muslim mayor. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to the United States at age 7 and became a citizen in 2018.

For Kondabolu, this moment is deeply significant.

"I think so many of us have had those experiences in New York of being brown and in a city that has always been really diverse and feels like ours. But after 9/11, like you start to question it like, is this our city too," he explained. "And 25 years later ... it's surreal, like this is the same city but it's not because we've elected this person."

Mamdani's campaign has captured the attention of South Asian communities — including Indian, Pakistani, and other groups — and many Muslims, even among those who may not align with all his views. For some, his success symbolizes progress in a city that has seen waves of racism and xenophobia, especially following the September 11 attacks.

Snigdha Sur, founder and CEO of The Juggernaut, a media outlet focusing on South Asians, observed how Mamdani's rise has resonated beyond US borders.

"So many global South Asians ... they're like, 'Oh, this guy is my mayor and I don't live in New York City,'" Sur noted.

Still, Mamdani's outspoken criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — whom he labeled a "war criminal" — has sparked anger and concern in some circles.

In Michigan, Thasin Sardar has been closely following Mamdani's political journey online. He was immediately drawn to Mamdani's authenticity.

"As a Muslim American, this victory puts my trust back in the people," said Sardar, who was born and raised in India. "I am happy that there are people who value the candidate and his policies more than his personal religious beliefs and didn't vote him down because of the color of his skin, or the fact that he was an immigrant with an uncommon name."

Zainab Shabbir, a New York City voter, said her family in California and elsewhere have been excited by the news.

"My family in California, they were very much like, 'Oh, it's so nice to see a South Asian Muslim candidate be a mayor of a major city,'" she said. She added that her brother believes Mamdani's success sets a strong example for his children.

However, for Shabbir, Mamdani's political platform was the real motivation behind her support. The 34-year-old, who donated to his campaign, voted for him, and canvassed, said his vision for the city resonated.

She met Mamdani briefly at a fundraiser and described him as "very friendly and genuine." She believes his campaign could inspire political engagement among more Muslim Americans, particularly those more focused on politics in their home countries.

"There's a lot of Muslim communities like my parents' generation who are focused a lot more on the politics back home and less on the politics here in America," said Shabbir. "Seeing people like Zohran Mamdani be in office, it'll really change that perspective in a lot of people."

Proudly embracing heritage

Observers agree that Mamdani's campaign blended authenticity and effective use of social media. He made visits to numerous mosques and incorporated Hindi and Bollywood references in campaign videos. His approach has been praised by other South Asian American politicians, including Representative Ro Khanna.

"I love that he didn't run away from his heritage. I mean, he did video clips with Amitabh Bachchan and Hindi movies," Khanna said, referencing the iconic Indian actor. "He shows that one can embrace their roots and their heritage and yet succeed in American politics."

But Khanna emphasized that Mamdani's victory is also rooted in addressing pressing economic concerns.

"The urgency of the economic message, the challenge that people are facing in terms of rent, in terms of the cost of living, and how speaking to that is so powerful," he added.

Tanzeela Rahman, a 29-year-old financial systems analyst and daughter of Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants, described her upbringing in New York as "very low income" and said Mamdani's campaign made her feel represented.

"I felt seen by him in a way politicians have not seen me ever," she said.

"I think very few people in government understand … how hard it is to survive in New York City."

Rahman called Mamdani "unabashedly Muslim" and viewed him as "a voice, who, literally, to me sounds like a New Yorker who's stepping in and saying, hey, let's reclaim our power."

Though Mamdani champions working-class issues, he comes from a well-known, educated family. His mother is filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Columbia University professor.

He grew up in Queens and attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. Kondabolu remembered Mamdani showing an interest in social justice even as a teenager.

While Mamdani's policies — such as pushing for affordable housing and free bus service — might not directly appeal to wealthier South Asian households in New York, his campaign still found unexpected support among them, according to Sur.

"It was, I think, a surprise that he did so well among the wealthiest, including his own community," Sur observed.

Mamdani's strong advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza have drawn both praise and backlash. While his stance attracted support from pro-Palestinian groups, including many Muslims, it has also led to criticism from some Jewish organizations. Still, he has received endorsements from certain Jewish politicians and activists.

Facing Racism and Islamophobia

Following Mamdani's win, conservative figures reacted with xenophobic and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Charlie Kirk, a right-wing media personality, posted that "legal immigration can ruin your country." In response, Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress, wrote, "For years they sold people the lie of 'we have no problem if you come the right way!'"

Despite such backlash, Mamdani's supporters believe bigotry won't derail his momentum.

Those sentiments clearly weren't "enough for him to lose" the primary, said Kondabolu.

"There's a new generation that wants their voice heard and that generation came out in full force, not just by voting, but by, like, getting all these other people to be emotionally invested in this candidate," Kondabolu said. "That's extraordinary."