Zohran Mamdani: The Bronx student who made Africana Studies his political compass
Zohran Mamdani , a 33-year-old Indian-origin Muslim, emerged as a progressive star after defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor on June 24, 2025. With 91% of votes counted, Mamdani led with 43% to Cuomo's 36%, halting Cuomo’s attempted political comeback. Cuomo, who qualified for an independent run on the "Fight and Deliver" ballot line, has not yet confirmed his next steps.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani immigrated to New York at the age of seven. A sitting state assemblyman since 2021, his campaign focused on affordability with proposals such as free buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare. Backed by endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani’s grassroots movement surged past Cuomo’s more traditional, establishment campaign.
Born on October 18, 1991, Mamdani’s early education was shaped by border crossings and the lived realities of injustice. From apartheid-era South Africa to housing courts in Queens, his life became a living curriculum—one that would guide his radical reimagining of what American leadership can look like.
A childhood across continents and contradictions
Mamdani was five when his family left Uganda for Cape Town, South Africa. The country was still healing from the deep wounds of apartheid, and even school lessons bore the weight of structural inequality. At home, political discourse was part of the atmosphere. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned political theorist, and his mother, Mira Nair, is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. These intellectual surroundings offered Zohran his first taste of critical inquiry—long before any formal syllabus could.
By 1998, the Mamdani family had moved to New York City. Zohran attended the Bank Street School for Children in Manhattan, known for its progressive approach, and later earned admission to Bronx High School of Science, one of NYC’s most prestigious public schools. But unlike many of his peers, he wasn’t drawn to STEM or Ivy League aspirations. Instead, he began questioning how cities fail their working-class residents—especially immigrants and the poor.
An education that asked dangerous questions
In 2009, Mamdani enrolled at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he majored in Africana Studies. It was more than an academic pursuit—it was a moral lens. While at Bowdoin, he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, championed anti-imperialist causes, and organised campus events that frequently unsettled the administration. His activism complemented his coursework, helping him see that the systems governing race, class, and migration weren’t broken—they were functioning precisely as designed.
Graduating in 2014 with a BA, Mamdani had gained more than a degree; he had sharpened a political compass that pointed directly toward systemic confrontation.
From housing courts to hip-hop: Politics in practice
Between 2015 and 2018, Mamdani worked as a housing counsellor in Queens, defending tenants from eviction and battling predatory landlords. These front-line experiences crystallised his belief that change had to come through policy as well as protest.
His political vision also found expression through music. Under the moniker “Young Cardamom,” he released a trilingual hip-hop track titled Nani in 2019, blending humour, identity, and political critique. It became a minor viral hit, and a signal that his message could reach beyond the podium.
Entering the political arena
Mamdani became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 2018 and shortly after ran for public office. In 2020, he won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing District 36 in Astoria, Queens. Unseating a four-term incumbent, he brought legislation focused on wage protections, fare-free buses, and debt relief for taxi drivers. He was re-elected in 2022 and again in 2024, expanding his base among progressive voters.
On October 23, 2024, he launched his campaign for the 2025 New York City mayoral race. His platform includes bold policies like a rent freeze, city-run grocery stores, universal free child care, and steep taxes on the ultra-rich.
A campaign powered by clarity and youth
Mamdani hasn’t been without controversy. His use of the phrase “globalize the intifada” at a 2021 rally drew criticism from Jewish groups and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He stood firm, asserting that clarity was more important than comfort.
With over 22,000 donors, strong social media momentum, and viral TikTok content, Mamdani is running a people-powered, youth-led campaign. Internal polls even show him leading former Governor Andrew Cuomo among Gen Z and millennial voters.
With his primary victory now secured, Mamdani has not only positioned himself as a mayoral frontrunner—he has also reshaped the narrative of political leadership in New York City.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani immigrated to New York at the age of seven. A sitting state assemblyman since 2021, his campaign focused on affordability with proposals such as free buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare. Backed by endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani’s grassroots movement surged past Cuomo’s more traditional, establishment campaign.
Born on October 18, 1991, Mamdani’s early education was shaped by border crossings and the lived realities of injustice. From apartheid-era South Africa to housing courts in Queens, his life became a living curriculum—one that would guide his radical reimagining of what American leadership can look like.
A childhood across continents and contradictions
Mamdani was five when his family left Uganda for Cape Town, South Africa. The country was still healing from the deep wounds of apartheid, and even school lessons bore the weight of structural inequality. At home, political discourse was part of the atmosphere. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned political theorist, and his mother, Mira Nair, is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. These intellectual surroundings offered Zohran his first taste of critical inquiry—long before any formal syllabus could.
By 1998, the Mamdani family had moved to New York City. Zohran attended the Bank Street School for Children in Manhattan, known for its progressive approach, and later earned admission to Bronx High School of Science, one of NYC’s most prestigious public schools. But unlike many of his peers, he wasn’t drawn to STEM or Ivy League aspirations. Instead, he began questioning how cities fail their working-class residents—especially immigrants and the poor.
An education that asked dangerous questions
In 2009, Mamdani enrolled at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he majored in Africana Studies. It was more than an academic pursuit—it was a moral lens. While at Bowdoin, he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, championed anti-imperialist causes, and organised campus events that frequently unsettled the administration. His activism complemented his coursework, helping him see that the systems governing race, class, and migration weren’t broken—they were functioning precisely as designed.
Graduating in 2014 with a BA, Mamdani had gained more than a degree; he had sharpened a political compass that pointed directly toward systemic confrontation.
From housing courts to hip-hop: Politics in practice
Between 2015 and 2018, Mamdani worked as a housing counsellor in Queens, defending tenants from eviction and battling predatory landlords. These front-line experiences crystallised his belief that change had to come through policy as well as protest.
His political vision also found expression through music. Under the moniker “Young Cardamom,” he released a trilingual hip-hop track titled Nani in 2019, blending humour, identity, and political critique. It became a minor viral hit, and a signal that his message could reach beyond the podium.
Entering the political arena
Mamdani became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 2018 and shortly after ran for public office. In 2020, he won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing District 36 in Astoria, Queens. Unseating a four-term incumbent, he brought legislation focused on wage protections, fare-free buses, and debt relief for taxi drivers. He was re-elected in 2022 and again in 2024, expanding his base among progressive voters.
On October 23, 2024, he launched his campaign for the 2025 New York City mayoral race. His platform includes bold policies like a rent freeze, city-run grocery stores, universal free child care, and steep taxes on the ultra-rich.
A campaign powered by clarity and youth
Mamdani hasn’t been without controversy. His use of the phrase “globalize the intifada” at a 2021 rally drew criticism from Jewish groups and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He stood firm, asserting that clarity was more important than comfort.
With over 22,000 donors, strong social media momentum, and viral TikTok content, Mamdani is running a people-powered, youth-led campaign. Internal polls even show him leading former Governor Andrew Cuomo among Gen Z and millennial voters.
With his primary victory now secured, Mamdani has not only positioned himself as a mayoral frontrunner—he has also reshaped the narrative of political leadership in New York City.
Next Story