New York City has chosen change over comfort, backing an underdog who promises to shake up the system from the ground up, and his roots trace back to Cape Town.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker and self-proclaimed socialist, has stunned the political establishment by winning the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating heavyweight contender Andrew Cuomo, as reported by Sky News.
With over 95% of ballots counted, Mamdani leads by a solid margin, securing 43.5% of the vote compared to Cuomo’s 36.4%. His victory speech, delivered to a roaring crowd of supporters, was crystal clear: ‘Today… with the vision of the city that every New Yorker can afford, we have won.’
His campaign, once considered a long shot, turned into a progressive juggernaut. Mamdani’s message? Free buses, universal childcare, affordable housing and a minimum wage hike, all to be funded through higher taxes on the wealthy. Slick, fast-paced videos on social media helped turn him from political outsider to a household name, especially among younger voters burdened by the rising cost of living.
But Mamdani’s rise isn’t just a win for progressives, it’s a blow to former governor Andrew Cuomo, who was eyeing a dramatic political comeback after resigning in disgrace in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo, whose campaign was built on experience and name recognition, had early momentum until the grassroots machine behind Mamdani gained steam. The former governor has since conceded, saying: ‘Tonight is his night.’
Born in New York but raised partly in Uganda and South Africa, Mamdani attended St George’s Grammar School in Cape Town before returning to the US. His mother is acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, while his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a prominent Ugandan academic known in South Africa for his attempt to decolonise UCT’s curriculum, sparking the so-called ‘Mamdani Affair’ in the late 1990s.
If elected in November, Mamdani will become New York’s first Muslim mayor. His campaign drew strong backing from leftist icons including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, cementing his image as the face of a new Democratic generation. He’s also been vocal in opposing Donald Trump’s policies, vowing to make New York a ‘model for the Democratic Party’ under a renewed Republican presidency.
Still, his critics, Cuomo chief among them, argued Mamdani lacked the experience to govern one of the most complex cities in the world. But voters turned out in sweltering 37°C heat to support him, proving that frustration with the status quo can outweigh polished political resumes.
With current mayor Eric Adams facing legal troubles and choosing to run as an independent, Mamdani’s path to City Hall in November is now wide open.
And in Cape Town, the school where he took his first steps in education is celebrating one of its own who now walks into power on a global stage.
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Picture: Michael M. Santiago / Gallo Images
