Mamdani made the impossible, possible: 4 reasons why he won the NYC mayoral race
The 34-year-old becomes the first Muslim mayor of 'The Big Apple'
Days after the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, one virtually unknown, 34-year-old immigrant and New York City Assemblyman began asking regular New Yorkers a simple question: “Did you vote for Donald Trump or not vote at all?”
Many paid no attention to him, but some did, giving him answers of frustration when it came to Democratic Party politics. Food and gas price hikes, expensive rent and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine were the most frustrating of all, and pushed people towards voting for Trump.
But one New Yorker gave an answer to the Assemblyman that would be at the forefront of his bid for mayor.
When asked about how he could vote Democrat in future elections, the man explained the left-wing party should “pay attention to the regular Americans and their economic needs.”
And one year later, on Nov. 4, 2025, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim and self-described Democratic Socialist, was elected to become the next mayor of New York.
“On January 1, I will be sworn in as the mayor of New York City,” Mamdani said during his victory speech at a Brooklyn theater full of supporters.” And that is because of you.”
The 34-year-old made history; with hundreds of millions of people across the globe having heard his name. He beat expected winner and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo twice–firstly in the Democratic primary and then in the election, and sidelining Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani became leader of the ‘capitalism capital of the world,’ and the city that experienced the horrors of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
So how did this virtually unknown, young politician make the impossible, possible?
The “New York for New Yorkers” slogan
In his official launching speech, Mamdani coined the slogan “New York for New Yorkers,” five words that he used to define his campaign, giving a Democrat, localized ‘America First’ feel.
“This campaign is about New York for New Yorkers—not for distant wars, not for out-of-touch elites, but for the families fighting to stay in their homes and afford this city we love.”
Affordability was at the heart of what he ran on. New York for New Yorkers, which he frequently said in clips and speeches, seemed like a breath of fresh air in a race where the media were laser-focused on candidate opinions’ on foreign affairs.
Cuomo’s staunch focus on foreign countries, namely Israel as being the first country he would visit, fell short with voters, as they had a different candidate they could vote for; a man for their city.
And Mamdani’s clever slogan paid off: A day after his victory, the slogan was described as a “stunningly successful message,” by the New York Times.
His campaign promises: affordability
Mamdani ran on affordability, a crucial part of daily life for New Yorkers, who live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S.
The issue defined his campaign, promising rent freezing for 1 million stabilized households, where rent cannot exceed a certain amount per local housing laws. He said he will make city buses “fast and free” and provide funding for universal childcare for parents with 6-week old infants to 5-year-olds.
Throughout the campaign, he became laser-focused on these issues, and for good reason.
On average, New Yorkers spend 50% of their income on rent just to have a roof over their heads, a phenomenon called severe rent burden, where people have to sacrifice paying for other necessities of life like groceries, water and electricity just to have a roof over their heads.
Back in February, Mamdani explained in one of his many viral clips that “The median income for a rent stabilized household is $60,000 a year. Any rent hike could push them out of this city,”
In a city where 60% of households pay 70% above average compared to other Americans, Mamdani’s promise to freeze rent came as music to many ears. Especially when Cuomo’s counteroffer was to “accelerate housing construction” by building 500,000 new units over a 10-year period: not enough for struggling New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s promise to ensure New Yorkers can “ride fast, ride free,” also resonated deeply, as 1.4 million people, or nearly 17% of New York, use a bus to navigate the city. With the average speed of buses being 8 miles per hour and $2.90 per ride in a traffic-filled city, fixing the bus system would help many.
At one of his many Queens rallies, Mamdani attacked Cuomo, saying that the former governor would “jet to Israel,” while he would instead make “your bus to Astoria free and fast. New York for New Yorkers means free rides to work, school, everywhere—not tolls for the rich.”
The boldest promise he made however was on childcare. In his outspoken style, he explained at a Brooklyn daycare that “Universal childcare isn’t a luxury.”
“It’s what New Yorkers deserve to thrive. New York for New Yorkers means every parent works without worry—not choosing between daycare and dinner.”
He directly spoke to parents with tight budgets, amounting to nearly 40% of families that can pay up to $20,000 a year solely childcare.
His street interviews and viral clips garnered support from young voters
Mamdani’s street interviews became one of the most defining features of his campaign, helping him connect with young New Yorkers in a way his opponents couldn’t. He took to the sidewalks of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, asking everyday people direct questions about their frustrations.
Those interviews went viral, showcasing average New Yorkers everyday struggles: “Rent’s killing me. Gas, food—everything up,” one truck driver said in a viral video. A mom in Queens said she didn’t vote because her “grocery bill doubled” and daycare had become unaffordable.
And one man gave a message that guided Mamdani’s entire run: “Pay attention to regular Americans and their economic needs.”
His campaign ads, however, were the ‘reel’ spotlight.
Mamdani would show himself speaking to an iPhone camera about his promises and New Yorkers’ frustration with the status quo in ways that caught the attention of young voters.
From quick and fresh videos, talking to the camera from the streets of New York to the underground subway system, Mamdani was virtually all across the city at once. Clips across TikTok, Instagram and X garnered more than 50 million views.
One of the most memorable of these clips was his Arabic ad, posted just days before Election Day.
“I know what you’re thinking — I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus, but my Arabic needs some work,” Mamdani joked, while also talking about his favorite Palestinian dessert, Knafeh–entirely in Arabic, a language he is not fluent in.
That creativity and diversity in outreach helped him at the ballot box with young voters. Turnout among 18–29-year-olds reached historic highs for a non-presidential year, with roughly 75% voting for Mamdani—many as first-time voters.
The Islamophobic smear campaigns backfired–big time
Mamdani’s energetic and innovative approach to campaigning gained momentum, no doubt. And as his numbers in the polls kept rising, his opponents resorted to smear tactics in a way to level the playing field. They failed miserably.
He faced a wave of racist and Islamophobic attacks unlike anything seen in recent New York politics. The biggest smears began in June, when Cuomo’s PAC sent out flyers with Mamdani’s beard darkened.
Weeks later, Cuomo made a joke on WABC radio that Mamdani would “cheer” if another attack happened.
“God forbid, another 9/11 — can you imagine Mamdani in the seat,” he said.
And as the final weeks in the race came around, the attacks increased sharply.
According to the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, 35,000 Islamophobic posts targeted him in November alone. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) documented 127 violent threats in a single day.
But the attacks did not sway him. Outside the Bronx Islamic Center on Oct. 24, Mamdani directly addressed the hate, saying, “These racist, baseless attacks exemplify the Islamophobia Muslims face every day—but they won’t divide us.” The clip went viral, hitting 10 million views in two days.
The smear efforts ended up rallying communities around him, many of them immigrants who are too familiar with racism. It was the exact opposite of what his opponents wanted.
Moreover, Muslim turnout doubled on Nov. 4, with 97% voting for him. One-third of Jewish voters—and 43% under age 45—backed him as well, despite the smears of antisemitism because of his pro-Palestine views.
By Election Day, how the race unfolded became clear: while his opponents leaned on fear and bigotry, Mamdani stayed composed, focused on affordability allowing them to separate his character from Cuomo and Sliwa.
His slogan “New York for New Yorkers” remained at the forefront. And his slogan won.