Zohran Mamdani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zohran Mamdani
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Mamdani in 2025
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| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district |
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| Assumed office January 1, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Aravella Simotas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
October 18, 1991 Kampala, Uganda |
| Citizenship | Uganda United States (since 2018) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Rama Duwaji
(m. 2025) |
| Parents |
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| Education | Bowdoin College (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Zohran Kwame Mamdani (born October 18, 1991) is an American politician. He has been a member of the New York State Assembly since 2021. He represents the 36th district, which is in Queens. Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Party. He is also part of the Democratic Socialists of America. He is expected to be the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election.
Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda. He moved to the United States when he was a child. He finished college at Bowdoin College in 2014. Before becoming a politician, he helped people with housing issues. He also produced rap music in New York City. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020. He has been re-elected since then. His main goals in the Assembly include improving housing, transportation, and energy.
In 2024, Mamdani announced he would run for mayor of New York City. His plans include making city buses free. He also wants to create public child care and city-owned grocery stores. He supports freezing rent on certain apartments. He also wants to build more affordable homes. During his campaign, he received support from other politicians. These include Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the primary election on June 24, 2025, Mamdani took the lead. He is now the likely Democratic candidate for mayor.
Early Life and School
Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991. He was born in Kampala, Uganda. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor. He teaches at Columbia University. His mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker. His middle name, Kwame, honors Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana.
When Zohran was five, his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa. He went to St. George's Grammar School there. His family moved to New York City when he was seven. He attended the Bank Street School for Children. Later, he went to the Bronx High School of Science. Mamdani then studied at Bowdoin College in Maine. He helped start a student group there. In 2014, he earned a bachelor's degree in Africana studies.
His Career Journey
Before running for office, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor. He helped people in Queens avoid losing their homes. He said this experience made him want to become a politician. He wanted to help solve housing problems.
Music and Advocacy
Mamdani enjoys hip-hop music. He has created and produced rap songs. In 2016, he used the name "Young Cardamom." He worked with a Ugandan rapper named HAB. They released an album called Sidda Mukyaalo. This means "No going back to the village" in Luganda. In 2019, he released a song called "Nani." He used the name "Mr. Cardamom" for this song. A famous actress, Madhur Jaffrey, appeared in the music video. She played his grandmother.
Starting in Politics
Mamdani began working in New York City politics as a volunteer. He helped with a campaign in 2015. In 2017, he joined the Democratic Socialists of America. He worked for a candidate named Khader El-Yateem. Mamdani also managed a campaign for Ross Barkan in 2018. He helped with Tiffany Cabán's campaign in 2019.
Serving in the State Assembly
In October 2019, Mamdani announced he would run for the New York's 36th State Assembly district. This district includes Astoria and Long Island City in Queens. He focused on improving housing and public services. He also wanted to reform police and prisons. Mamdani won the primary election in June 2020. He then won the general election in November. He was reelected in 2022 and 2024.
Mamdani is part of a group called "Socialists in Office." He is also a member of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York. His district has many Muslim and Arab voters.
As of 2025, Mamdani is a member of several Assembly committees. These include committees on Aging, Cities, and Energy. He has sponsored 20 bills in the Assembly. Three of these bills have become law. He has also supported 238 other bills. He has not missed any sessions in Albany in 2025.
He has helped New York get over $100 million for subway service. He also started a successful free bus program. He worked to stop a proposed power plant.
Running for Mayor
On October 23, 2024, Mamdani announced he would run for mayor of New York City. His plans include making city buses free. He also wants to freeze rent in certain homes. Mamdani also wants the city to run five grocery stores. This would help lower food prices. If elected, Mamdani would be New York's first Muslim mayor.
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported Mamdani for mayor. She said he can bring together working-class New Yorkers. Senator Bernie Sanders also supported Mamdani. He said the nation needs new leaders. These leaders should fight for everyday people.
Some newspapers have shared their opinions on Mamdani's campaign. The New York Times said his experience was "too thin." The Atlantic said his plans were "disconnected from actual government budgets."
For most of the campaign, Mamdani was behind in polls. However, a poll before the June 24, 2025, election showed he had caught up. On election night, Mamdani had a big lead. His opponent, Andrew Cuomo, accepted the results. This result was a big surprise.
What He Believes In
Mamdani began to identify as a democratic socialist in 2016. This was after Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign. He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Helping Families and Schools
Mamdani supports a system for universal pre-kindergarten childcare. He has suggested giving new New York City families "baby baskets." These baskets would have items like diapers. Mamdani also proposed a bill to remove tax breaks for some universities. He wants to use that money to help the City University of New York system.
Ideas for the Economy
Mamdani supports limiting rent increases. He wants to make rules stronger to protect renters. He also wants to create an agency to build publicly owned affordable housing. He aims to build 200,000 new affordable homes in 10 years. He also wants to improve homes for public housing residents. He supports building more homes near public transportation.
Mamdani supports raising New York City's minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030.
He also supports increasing taxes on large companies in New York State. He wants to raise income tax for people earning over $1 million a year. This money would help fund tuition-free colleges. It would also support childcare and free bus services.
In 2021, Mamdani went on a hunger strike. He did this with taxi drivers. They wanted help with their debts.
Views on Global Peace
Zohran Mamdani has spoken about the importance of human rights and peace around the world. He believes in fairness for all people. He has supported efforts to help people affected by conflicts. He has also called for peace in different regions.
Supporting All Communities
Mamdani supported a 2024 amendment to the Constitution of New York. This amendment makes it illegal to discriminate based on ethnicity, age, disability, and gender. It also protects reproductive healthcare.
Improving Transportation
Mamdani supports making bus fares free forever. He pushed for a free bus program. This program started on five bus routes in September 2023. Ridership increased by 30% on weekdays. Assaults on bus drivers also dropped. The program ended in August 2024. Mamdani believes it would cost New York City $650 million per year to make all bus fares free.
In December 2022, Mamdani introduced bills to "Fix the MTA." He suggested making bus travel free across different boroughs over four years. He also proposed freezing subway fares at $2.75. Another idea was to increase how often trains and buses run.
In 2023, Mamdani helped introduce a bill. It would charge more for heavier vehicles. This would encourage people to use lighter cars. This aims to make streets safer.
Mamdani supports congestion pricing. This is a fee for driving in busy areas. He drafted a bill to use this money to improve bus service.
His Personal Life
In 2018, Mamdani became an American citizen. He is a Shia Muslim. He married Rama Duwaji in early 2025. She is an artist. As of 2025, they live in an apartment in Astoria.
Mamdani is a fan of the English football team Arsenal.
See also
In Spanish: Zohran Mamdani para niños
- Indian Americans in New York City
- List of Democratic Socialists of America public officeholders
- Ugandan Americans
