Former Governor and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo finished second with 41% votes, while Republican Curtis Sliwa trailed with 7.1%. Mamdani, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, celebrated the victory by dancing to the Bollywood song “Dhoom Machale” and invoking India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in his speech.
“The city that produced Trump will now show the country how to defeat him,” Mamdani declared to cheering supporters, adding, “Donald Trump, I know you’re watching—turn up the volume.”
Before entering politics, Mamdani was a hip-hop artist who performed under the stage name Mr. Cardamom. His music, especially the viral track “Kanda” about youth struggles in Kampala, Uganda, reflected his early engagement with social issues. He later moved to Queens, where activism around immigrant rights, housing, and racial justice led him into politics.
Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, Mamdani built a reputation for championing affordable housing, rent control, and free public transport. His proposal to raise the city’s minimum wage to $30 an hour and impose higher taxes on corporations has drawn both praise and criticism.
US President Donald Trump dismissed him as a “mad communist,” warning that his policies would “bankrupt the city.” Mamdani, however, remains defiant, promising a “fairer, more inclusive New York.”
Supported by Governor Kathy Hochul, though cautiously on tax policy, Mamdani’s leadership is expected to test progressive governance in one of America’s most influential cities.
3.jpg)
