On November 4, 2025 at 7 p.m., the polls closed across New York City. After three powerful campaigns from three mayoral candidates, Zohran Mamdani came out on top, receiving 50.6% of total votes. After receiving waves of criticism and controversy, Mamdani has made his position as a politician clear to New Yorkers.

Zohran Mamdani is a 34-year old democratic socialist and the first millennial to govern New York City. Born in Uganda, both of Mamdani’s parents are of Indian descent and he moved to Queens in New York City at the age of seven. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and later Bowdoin College, where he achieved a degree in African Studies. He is of Muslim faith, making him the first Muslim mayor of the city as well.

Mamdani’s progressive policies turned some heads within his own party. He pledged affordability, with proposals to lower rent and make public transportation free, arguing that mobility is a basic right of New York citizens. He also presented universal free childcare, framing it as a foundation for economic participation. These promises appealed to voters who felt oppressed by rising costs and instability, but it also triggered debates about feasibility.

He has also raised some controversy after he openly criticized Israel and the conflict with Hamas in Palestine, accusing them of causing a genocide. This position made some voters apprehensive about his viewpoints. Others thought that his thoughts on the issue were evidence of moral clarity and strong leadership.

Mattie Floyd (’27) said, “I don’t live in New York, but if New Yorkers are happy, so am I.”

One of the many things that pushed Mamdani to success, however, was his active presence on social media. His trendy and relatable posts on Instagram and TikTok have garnered millions of views and a wide fanbase of young voters. Many see his videos as a source of authenticity and freshness that is absent from other political campaigns. Short clips explaining his policies in an easy-to-follow way helped build a more personal relationship with viewers. His social media was a key aspect that set him apart from his two main opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, whose campaigns relied more on public appearances and traditional media.

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Despite the love he has received from supporters, several groups from New York City and across the country have more negative feelings about Mamdani and his policies. Many are worried that because he is of Muslim faith, he is going to implement sharia law. Sharia law is a code for living that the majority of Muslims adhere to, like praying at certain times of the day and wearing religious clothing like hijabs. It is used as the basis for legislation in many Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. However, Mamdani has never made any claims to enact religious policies in New York City or even related his faith to his policies during his campaign. The majority of these claims against him have been made by unreliable sources on social media.

One of the more popular issues opposers of Mamdani are concerned about is his identification as a democratic socialist. Democratic socialism is a political policy that favors centralized power and government involvement to benefit the majority public rather than private corporations. Responding to this criticism, Mamdani shares that he identifies as a democratic socialist because he values ideals like economic equality and affordability, which are universally accepted principles of democratic socialism.

“I think that this is a big step for New York,” said Claudia Ruiz-Carus (’27). “His policies not only aim to make New York a more affordable city, but they offer so many more opportunities for residents.”

Against all of the harsh examinations by his detractors, Mamdani stands firm in his key promises. Throughout his campaign, he announced that he will lower the cost of living for New York citizens, implement universal free childcare, freeze rent, and more strictly oversee the police department. He shares that these policies are the primary ways he can ensure the health, safety, and individual rights of New Yorkers. As he shared in his  mayoral acceptance speech, “Let City Hall, with our compassion, our conviction and our clarity, be the light that our city and our nation so desperately need.”