In a historic triumph, Indian-American Muslim Democrat Zohran Mamdani, 34, has claimed victory in the New York mayoral election. Overcoming the challenges posed by former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, Mamdani has made his mark as the first South Asian and Muslim to take on the role of mayor in one of America’s wealthiest cities.
Zohran Mamdani secured 948,202 votes (50.6%) in a race that saw 83% voter turnout. Leading the NYC mayoral race for months, Mamdani's journey to victory was supported by his steadfast commitment to the people of New York. Despite Andrew Cuomo running as an independent candidate with last-minute support from Trump, Mamdani's win was decisive.
Cuomo garnered 776,547 votes (41.3%), with Sliwa receiving 137,030 votes. The New York City Board of Elections announced that this election saw over two million ballots cast for the first time since 1969, with significant turnout across Manhattan (444,439), Bronx (187,399), Brooklyn (571,857), Queens (421,176), and Staten Island (123,827). Mamdani had defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary earlier this year and was declared the victor in June.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Mamdani moved to New York City at the age of seven, eventually becoming an American citizen. His mother, Mira Nair, is a renowned Indian-American filmmaker, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.
Source: aajtak
Mamdani is married to Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji. The couple got engaged in October 2024 and tied the knot at the City Clerk's office in Lower Manhattan in February of the same year. Apart from Mamdani, other Indian-origin candidates have also emerged victorious in various elections.
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Ghazala Hashmi's Historic Victory
In another landmark achievement, Indian-American Democrat Ghazala Hashmi defeated Republican John Reed to become Virginia's Lieutenant Governor. Hashmi is the first Muslim and South Asian American to serve in the Virginia Senate, representing the 15th Senatorial District. Her victory signifies a special election will be held for her Senate seat.
Source: aajtak
Ghazala Hashmi entered politics in 2019, winning a surprising victory by claiming a Republican-held State Senate seat, and became a member of the Virginia General Assembly. Five years later, in 2024, she was appointed chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, overseeing key Democratic priorities like reproductive freedom and public education.
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J.J. Singh's Victory
Indian-American J.J. Singh contested from Virginia House of Delegates District 26 and secured a win in this predominantly Northern Virginia district.
Born to a Punjabi Sikh family in Northern Virginia, J.J. Singh grew up in Fairfax Station. His parents moved to the area from India in the 1970s. Singh's father, Amarjit Singh, was born in Faisalabad, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Pakistan), and relocated to Haryana, India, after the partition.
