Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and the son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, announced his victory in the Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night.
“In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who made it happen. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City,” Mamdani expressed in a post on X.
US Senator Bernie Sanders praised Mamdani and his extensive grassroots support for their “remarkable campaign.”
“You challenged the political, economic, and media Establishment – and you prevailed. Now it’s time to aim for success in the general election.” “My friends, we did it. I will be your Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City. We have won from Harlem to Bay Ridge,” a report in the New York Times cited Mamdani as stating at a victory gathering in Queens.
As Cuomo accepted defeat, he remarked: “Tonight was not our night. Tonight belongs to him. He earned it. He won.” Mamdani, a democratic socialist running for Mayor, was born in Uganda and raised in New York City.
His website indicates that he has championed the working class both inside and outside the legislature, including hunger striking alongside taxi drivers to secure over USD 450 million in transformative debt relief, winning more than USD 100 million in the state budget for enhanced subway service and a successful fare-free bus pilot, as well as mobilizing New Yorkers to block a proposed dirty power plant.
“The cost of living is weighing heavily on working people, but Zohran believes that government can reduce costs and improve life in our city — he’ll employ every tool at his disposal to lower rent, create top-notch public transit, and ease family life,” his website stated.
Mamdani has committed that as Mayor, he will instantly freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants and utilize every resource to develop the housing New Yorkers require and decrease rent.
His campaign promised quick, fare-free buses, stating that as Mayor, he’ll permanently abolish the fare on every city bus – and enhance service by swiftly implementing priority lanes, expanding bus queue jump signals, and creating dedicated loading zones to keep double-parked vehicles at bay.
Mamdani also plans to provide free childcare for every New Yorker aged 6 weeks to 5 years, ensuring high-quality programming for all families.
Amid rising food prices, his campaign also vowed that as Mayor, he would establish a network of city-owned grocery stores aimed at keeping prices low, without the motive of profit.
Mamdani has a strategy to reduce the cost of living through city-owned grocery stores, universal childcare, and other ambitious proposals, and he is clear about the funding as well, according to his campaign.
His “revenue plan will elevate the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5 percent, generating USD 5 billion. Additionally, he will impose a flat 2 percent tax on the wealthiest 1 percent of New Yorkers — those earning above USD 1 million annually — given that current city income tax rates remain essentially the same regardless of whether one earns USD 50,000 or USD 50 million,” it noted, adding that he will also introduce sensible procurement reform, eliminate unnecessary no-bid contracts, hire more tax auditors, and tighten collection from corrupt landlords to raise an extra USD 1 billion.
“New York is too costly. Zohran will reduce expenses and enhance quality of life,” his platform declared.
