Zaharan Mamdani is the first Muslim to head New York City after a historic victory over Andrew Cuomo, as announced by the Associated Press on Tuesday evening.
Official results from the city’s Board of Elections showed that Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democrat of Indian descent, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Starting January 1, he will assume his duties as the youngest mayor in over a century.
Mamdani, known for his strong opposition to former President Donald Trump, declared in his victory speech to supporters that “New York’s win is a message that the city that produced Trump is the same one that can defeat him.” He added, “New York will be a beacon in this time of political darkness.”
Mamdani is part of the democratic socialist movement and previously served on the New York State Assembly, where he gained popularity among youth and the working class through his advocacy for social justice and economic reform.
He won the Democratic primary by a margin of 12 points, utilizing a ranked-choice voting system for the first time this year.
It’s worth noting that Moroccan newspaper “Express TV” covered the New York primaries through its editor Najiba Jalal, who provided live and exclusive reporting from the heart of the event, highlighting the rise of the young Muslim candidate within the American political scene.
