Uganda-born politician Zohran Mamdani has made history by winning the mayoral election in New York City, becoming the city’s youngest mayor in over a century, officials confirmed.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani’s victory marks a major moment for African-born leaders in global politics.
At 34 years old, Mamdani will govern one of the world’s most influential and economically powerful cities. According to 2024 data from the U.S.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), New York’s nominal GDP stood at approximately $2.3 trillion, ranking third in the United States behind Texas and California, as seen on USA Today.
Mamdani, whose family is of South Asian (Indian) heritage and who immigrated to New York City at age seven after his parents’ years in Uganda and Cape Town, grew up partly in New York City and attended the Bronx High School of Science before majoring in Africana Studies at Bowdoin College.
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His background, Ugandan-born, South Asian heritage, Muslim faith, and raised both in Africa and New York, has shaped his public image and campaign narrative.
He first entered electoral politics in 2020, defeating five-term incumbent Aravella Simotas in the Democratic primary for the 36th Assembly District and assuming office in January 2021; he was re-elected in subsequent cycles.
In October 2024 he launched his campaign for mayor of New York City and went on to win the 2025 Democratic primary in what many outlets described as an upset.
Reports say Mamdani holds dual citizenship in Uganda and the United States, and in 2025 publicly announced his marriage to Rama Duwaji.
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Image Credit: OkayAfrica
