DREAM / The Prime Minister resigns and wakes up under the Parisian bridge!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

Who is Zohran Mamdani, the socialist who could become New York's first Muslim mayor?

2025-11-03 23:53:28Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Who is Zohran Mamdani, the socialist who could become New York's first
Zohran Mamdani

On the eve of the New York mayoral election, one name is attracting more and more attention in the American political arena: Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old politician who could become not only the city's youngest mayor, but also the first Muslim in New York's history.

According to La Repubblica, Mamdani, who describes himself as "a politician with a Scandinavian soul and darker skin", has managed to turn from a little-known figure into one of the most powerful candidates for the leadership of the city that "never sleeps".

He currently leads in the polls with 41% of the vote, seven points ahead of his main rival, former governor Andrew Cuomo (34%), while Republican Curtis Sliwa ranks third with 24%.

A story of migration, art and activism

Zohran Keame Mamdani was born in Uganda in 1991. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is one of Africa's most renowned political scientists, while his mother is the famous Indian director Mira Nair, author of the cult film Monsoon Wedding. The family moved to New York in 1998, when he was only seven years old.

Raised in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, a mosaic of cultures and ethnicities, Mamdani was shaped by diverse realities that led him to a political vision built on social equality and economic justice. Initially passionate about hip-hop, he later chose to become involved in social work, helping low-income families avoid losing their homes due to loans.

"Every day I saw the concrete consequences of inequality," he confessed.

From activist to frontrunner for mayor

Mamdani joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2017, and just three years later won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing his district, Astoria.

He was reconfirmed in the 2022 and 2024 elections, gaining ground thanks to a platform that includes ambitious measures such as:

- free public transport,

- ban on rent increases for price-controlled apartments,

- construction of 200 thousand new affordable housing units,

- free nursery for all families,

- and a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $30/hour by 2030, financed through taxation of large corporations and millionaires.

These proposals have turned him into a symbol of the new progressive generation, but also into a target of the wealthy and conservatives.

President Donald Trump has called him a "communist" and warned that he will cut off federal funding if he is elected.

A figure that divides, but also inspires

Although Mamdani has won the support of left-wing figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he has sparked heated debate within the party for his critical stances on Israeli policies. He has openly condemned the “genocide against Palestinians in Gaza” and proposed a ban on funding organizations that support illegal Israeli settlements.

Despite the criticism, he has won the sympathy of the city's younger Jewish generation. A July 2025 poll showed that 67% of Jewish voters under the age of 44 would support his candidacy.

Surprisingly, former President Barack Obama has contacted him personally, offering moral support and advice for the future, which may have strengthened his position among moderate Democrats.

A campaign that changes the rules of the game

In late October, Mamdani was seen everywhere in the city, from ethnic community parades to campaign meetings with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.

In the Upper East Side neighborhood, usually reserved for the wealthy elite, he traveled by subway like any ordinary citizen and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds asking for photos and hugs.

La Repubblica writes that "his figure has brought a new spirit to American politics, representing the voice of generations that demand real change, not just rhetoric."

If he wins, Mamdani will go down in history as the first Muslim mayor of New York and one of the youngest to ever lead this city with a budget of $116 billion, thus becoming a symbol of a more colorful, more social and, perhaps, more courageous America.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×