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Topics: Zohran Mamdani, Politics, US News, Donald Trump, News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Zohran Mamdani, Politics, US News, Donald Trump, News
Following his immense, history-making victory in New York City's latest elections, Zohran Mamdani was elected as the city's new mayor.
The 34-year-old's win reportedly sparked a chorus of cheers on Tuesday (4 November), given Mamdani's refreshingly liberal stance in an increasingly right-wing America.
On top of being the city's most left-leaning leader in decades, Mamdani - who knocked back opponents, former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, with a 50.4 percent vote - has also made history as NYC's first Muslim mayor.
The state politician is also the first of both South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa, to assume the powerful position.
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In light of Mamdani's long-awaited election, international onlookers have raised questions about his political plans for the 'Big Apple' - many of which previously rubbed Republican frontman Donald Trump up the wrong way.
Here's everything we know, and everything you should know, about New York City's new main man.
The politician was born in Uganda to a Muslim family, later moving to the 'City That Never Sleeps' aged just seven. In New York, he enrolled at the Bronx High School of Science, going on to earn a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College.
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At university, Mamdani found his feet in debate, co-founding the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, and going on to incorporate both the teachings of his Islamic faith and his academic achievements into numerous aspects of his rise through the ranks of politics.
Prior to fully transitioning into this arena, however, he worked as a housing counsellor, helping low-income homeowners to fight unfair eviction.
At a rally earlier this year, he told attendees of the importance of being proud of their heritage, especially in an America that has proven increasing less tolerant of Islam.
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"We know that to stand in public as a Muslim is also to sacrifice the safety that we can sometimes find in the shadows," he said.
Mamdani is also well aware of his popularity with younger members of society, believing they're the key for more accepting futures for all.
Giving a speech following his win - which followed the largest turnout in a mayoral race in over 50 years - Mamdani also told his supporters: "The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate.
"I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this."
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The Democrat went on to promise he'd 'wake up each morning with a singular purpose', to 'make this city better for you than it was the day before'.
"New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change," he added.
Aside from his politics, Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji - a 28-year-old Syrian-American illustrator and animator, whom he met on Hinge.
Alongside her husband, she has also made history of New York's first Gen Z first lady, given that she was born in 1997.
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A democratic socialist, Mamdani is a strong believer that the government has a responsibility to reduce economic inequality, improve affordability and ensuring working-class people and ethnic minorities aren't pushed out of the city.
With housing in mind, he has already pledged to freeze rent increases for four years for rent-stabilised units and strengthen the protection of tenants whilst cracking down on landlords.
In terms of taxes, Mamdani has also promised to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030 in the city, as well as increase corporate taxes and target wealthier homeowners with higher property taxes to build a rebalance.
It's not just housing that Mamdani plans to invest in, but transport. Not only did he announce plans to make buses free across New York City, but with public service in mind, he also proposed a new Department of Community Safety, which he says would shift non-criminal issues like mental health and homelessness out of the police domain.
For young people, the new mayor also pledged to provide universal child care for kids aged between 6 weeks and 5 years old, and raise the wages of early-childhood professionals. He also seeks to fund public schools equally, making sure that each has mental-health counsellors, smaller class sizes, and after-school programmes.
And for minorities or immigrants, Mamdani also expressed support of the city's sanctuary laws, and plans to expand legal representation for immigrants in detention, as well as implement stronger protections for immigrant communities.
He also seeks for NYC to become an 'LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city', which would provide gender-affirming care via public providers, by creating an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.
Unsurprisingly, President Trump has long been an opposer of Mamdani coming into power.
The new mayor's plans to tax wealthy groups and challenge the economic narrative that the president and his pals align with hasn't gone down well.
Attempting to insult him in the past, the Republican has branded him a 'communist', and '100% communist lunatic', and has come for his appearance, voice, and intelligence in ceaseless social media posts.
Addressing their conflicting views in his acceptance speech, the new mayor addressed recent accusations about Trump perpetuating an 'authoritarian dictatorship', after he threatened to withhold funding from New York City if Mamdani were to be elected.
For those in need of reminder, Trump previously warned on Truth Social: "Self-proclaimed New York City Communist, Zohran Mamdani, who is running for Mayor, will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party.
"He is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City. Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfil all of his FAKE Communist promises.
"He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him? This ideology has failed, always, for thousands of years. It will fail again, and that’s guaranteed!"
Responding to Trump's comments, Mamdani vowed yesterday: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.
"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
Taking to Truth Social again after Mamdani's win, Trump went on to say: "…AND SO IT BEGINS!"