Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state legislator, has been elected mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim, first South Asian, and first African-born person to hold the office. The Ugandan-born son of immigrants is also the youngest mayor the city has seen in more than a century.

In his victory speech, Mamdani celebrated New York’s identity as a city of immigrants and pledged to build a government that reflects its diversity. “New York will remain a city of immigrants — a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” he declared to a cheering crowd.

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He added, “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 apologize for any of this.”

Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York with his family as a child. His mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed film director, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned Ugandan academic and author. Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor and community organizer in Queens, where he was later elected to the New York State Assembly representing Astoria.

Known for his advocacy on housing justice, immigrant rights, and police reform, Mamdani built a broad grassroots movement that propelled him to one of the most powerful municipal offices in the United States.

He defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a closely watched race that signaled a shift toward progressive leadership in the city.

Mamdani is set to take office on January 1, vowing to lead with empathy, transparency, and a commitment to making New York “a city for everyone who calls it home.”