Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-origin politician, has won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani secured 43.5% of the vote, while Cuomo received 36.3%, according to final results. This victory makes Mamdani the leading candidate for the upcoming general election.
Born in Uganda to Harvard professor Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani moved to the United States 25 years ago. Before politics, he pursued a music career under the name Young Cardamon.
He is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-born illustrator, whom he met on the dating app Hinge. They wed in Dubai last December.
According to Forbes, Mamdani’s net worth ranges from $200,000 to $300,000 (Rs 1.6 crore to Rs 2.5 crore).
His income includes a $142,000 annual salary as a New York State Assembly member (Rs 1.18 crore).
Yearly music royalties of about $1,267 (Rs 1.05 lakh).
And four acres of land in Jinja, Uganda, valued at $150,000 to $250,000.
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Since becoming a U.S. citizen in 2018, Mamdani has served in the New York State Assembly since 2020, advocating for housing rights, public transportation, and economic equity.
If elected mayor, he will earn $260,000 annually and become New York City’s youngest mayor since 1889 and its first Muslim mayor.
His win highlights a shift toward diverse and progressive leadership in New York City politics.