Who is Zohran Mamdani, the dark horse in line to be NYC mayor?
Until he was five years old, Zohran Mamdani lived in a cottage on a hill above Kampala, Uganda, with a view of Lake Victoria.
He now lives in a one-bedroom flat in Queens, but by the beginning of next year he is on course to move into the famed Gracie Mansion as the mayor of America's largest metropolis.
Mamdani, 33, a democratic socialist, a New York state assemblyman since 2021 and before that a rapper who performed under the moniker Mr Cardamom, is now all but certain to secure the Democratic nomination for mayor after a primary that generally selects the city's next leader.
'In the words of Nelson Mandela: It always seems impossible until it is done,' he told his cheering supporters who had gathered in Long Island City, Queens. 'My friends, we have done it.'
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Wall Street shivers over ‘hot commie summer' after Mamdani's success
When Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described socialist, won New York's mayoral Democratic nomination last week over a seasoned but scandal-scarred veteran, the city's financial elite had a meltdown. This was the start of 'hot commie summer' in the city, New York hedgevfund billionaire Daniel Loeb posted to X. John Catsimatidis, billionaire CEO of grocery chain Gristedes and friend of Donald Trump, warned on Fox Business: 'If the city of New York is going socialist, I will definitely close, or sell, or move.' CNBC financial news channel anchor Joe Kernen compared New York to Batman's crime-riddled Gotham. ' They're taking Wall Streeters and making them walk out onto the ice in the East River, And, and then they fall through. I mean there is a class warfare that's going on.' With five months until the mayoral election proper, the 1% are revolting, led by loquacious billionaire hedge funder Bill Ackman, who said he and others in the finance industry are ready to commit 'hundreds of millions of dollars' into an opposing campaign. 'The risk/reward of running for mayor over the next 132 days is extremely compelling as the cost in time and energy is small and the upside is enormous.' Ackman said he was 'gravely concerned' because he believed the leftwing candidate's policies would trigger an exodus of the wealth that would destroy the tax base and undermine New York's public services. The city under Mamdani, he posted on Wedneday, 'is about to become much more dangerous and economically unviable.' In 2021, the top 1% of New York City taxpayers paid 48% of taxes – up from 40% in 2019, according to a report from the city's finance department. But at the same time, New York has become an increasingly unaffordable city for those outside the 1% – especially for people of color. In a post a day later, Ackman said: 'The ability for New York City to offer services for the poor and needy, let alone the average New Yorker, is entirely dependent on New York City being a business-friendly environment and a place where wealthy residents are willing to spend 183 days and assume the associated tax burden. Unfortunately, both have already started making arrangements for the exits.' 'Terror is the feeling,' Kathryn Wylde, the chief executive of the Partnership for New York City, which represents top business leaders, told CNBC on Tuesday. Gerard Filitti, senior legal counsel at the Lawfare Project, a pro-Israel thinktank, non-profit and litigation fund, and a New Yorker with strong ties to the finance industry, said Mamdani's nomination 'marked a dangerous turning point for the city'. 'There's big concern that businesses and the economy will be hurt. There's already a move by business leaders and entrepreneurs to consider a move outside of the city, taking jobs and tax dollars with them, at time when the front-running candidate promises to make even more change that could destroy the economy,' Filitti said. The anger was not necessarily purely economic. Wall Street's decision makers have been shaken after seeing their preferred candidate, Andrew Cuomo, pushed aside despite the millions they poured into his campaign. Fix the City, Cuomo's political action committee (Pac), raised a record $25m to help see off Mamdani. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg alone gave $8.3m to the Pac. 'These are billionaires who are giving hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars to Andrew Cuomo precisely because they know we are going to tax them to make life a little bit more affordable here, in the most expensive city in the United States,' Mamdani told the New York Times before the election. 'They know they can count on Cuomo because Cuomo has a track record of rewarding the political donors.' New York's moneyed class argues it's not about them but the future of the city. 'When you look at what New York City is and has been historically – a bastion of trading and the center of world capitalism, the engine of economic growth and prosperity, the stock market, an the inspiration for other world economies to develop their markets and economies in line with New York – and now what were seeing is an economy and quality of life that is slowly deteriorating,' said Filitti. 'Now we have a front-running Democrat candidate who is promising even more radical change and that change is a threat to the structure of New York and the way people identify with New York City,' Filitti added. It's an argument the rich have made many times before. Many of the 1% threatened to leave after former mayor Bill de Blasio called for raising their taxes to pay for the losses the city experienced after the Covid pandemic. Wall Street poured millions into mayor Eric Adam's 2021 campaign for office to see off more progressive candidates. They won those fights; this time, they lost. A former Wall Street CEO told Politico: 'These titans of Wall Street and titans of finance are used to getting their way. They didn't get their way. They got the opposite of their way. They got a guy who couldn't be more disliked by them – and vice versa.' Wall Street's vision for the city is probably far from that shared by many other residents of a sprawling metropolis that traditionally has played host to vibrant immigrant communities from all over the world, many of them poor. It is of course, host to the Statue of Liberty on whose base is written the famous lines: 'Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.' Manhattan was also the birthplace of the Occupy Wall Street protests in the US back in 2011, which occupied the downtown Zucotti Square – blocks from Wall Street – and eventually saw protests spread across the rest of the country and the world. Democratic progressives were quick to celebrate Mamdani's victory. 'Your dedication to an affordable, welcoming, and safe New York City where working families can have a shot has inspired people across the city. Billionaires and lobbyists poured millions against you and our public finance system. And you won,' wrote representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another progressive who won out against a more establishment candidate. Another longtime critic of Wall Street and the billionaire class also saw a change in politics as usual. 'The American people are beginning to stand up and fight back. We have seen that in the many Fighting Oligarchy events that we've done around the country that have drawn huge turnouts. We have seen that in the millions of people who came out for the No Kings rallies that took place this month in almost every state. And yesterday, we saw that in the Democratic primary in New York City,' senator Bernie Sanders wrote in The Guardian. Millions will now be spent attacking Mamdani. But he has seen off one well-funded attempt to derail his campaign. Whether or not his campaign has the momentum to last until November, remains to be seen. But Wall Streeters have been put on notice that New York, and the changing nature of the Democratic party, may no longer be as amenable to their interests, or their vision for New York.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
New York braces for billionaire exodus after socialist Zohran Mamdani's win
New York is bracing for an 'exodus of billionaires' after the Democrats nominated a staunch socialist as their candidate for mayor. Zorham Mamdani, a 33-year-old 'anti-Zionist', sent shock waves through American politics on Tuesday when he beat Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, in the Democratic primary, earning him the party's nomination for November's mayoral election. A rank outsider, Mr Mamdani was carried to victory by a wave of young voters who were won over by his radical campaign pledges to freeze rents and introduce free public transport and city-run grocery stores, all of which he pledged would be paid for by hiking taxes on the wealthy. The primary result has sparked panic among New York's ultra-rich, with luxury real estate agents inundated with calls from clients looking to relocate or freeze plans to move their businesses to Manhattan. One high-end broker described Mr Mamdani's victory as the 'worst thing for the housing market since 9/11', while another called it the 'nail in the coffin' for New York. 'There's an old saying in real estate: Money goes where it's welcome,' said John Boyd Jr, founder of Florida-based corporate site selection specialist The Boyd Co, who works with a range of multi-millionaire New York-based clients. 'There's alarms going off among many key executives as well as the billionaire class about New York becoming a socialist run city,' he said. Eric Benaim, a leading real estate broker known as 'The King of Queens', said that his phone has been 'blowing up' with clients panicking about the impact of Mr Mamdani's policies. 'One person just liquidated everything. He was just about to make another investment in New York city but he's now going to look elsewhere,' said Mr Benaim, the founder of Modern Spaces. 'It's the most devastating thing (to our industry) since 9/11,' he added. 'We are going to have the biggest exodus of New Yorkers since Covid - except this time, they're not going to come back. That's going to change New York.' Mr Mamdani plans to hike the corporate tax rate from 7.25 per cent to 11 per cent and to charge those earning over $1 million a year an additional two per cent in city income tax, which is expected to cost wealthy households an additional $118,000 a year. Business executives say the proposals have triggered widespread dismay, with Kathryn Wylde, the CEO of the partnership for New York City, which represents top business leaders, warning that 'terror' is being felt by many New Yorkers. Briggs Elwell, the CEO and co-founder of RLTYco, a real estate consultant in New York, told The Telegraph it was 'a time of unique uncertainty'. While James Whelan, president of the real estate board of New York, described Mr Mamdani's proposals on how to cut crime, build houses and create jobs as 'fanciful and extreme'. Many of the city's ultra-wealthy have thrown their weight behind the more business-friendly incumbent Eric Adams, who launched his re-election campaign as an independent on Thursday with a rousing speech in which he declared: 'This is not a city of handouts.' Mr Adams won as a Democrat in his first mayoral bid in 2021, but announced he would run an independent after he saw his popularity plummet following his indictment on corruption charges, which he denied. The case was later dropped by the Trump administration. Late on Wednesday, Mr Adams courted Wall Street sharks and politicos in a Manhattan conference room where they plotted how to block the rise of Mr Mamdani, according to The New York Times. As New York's top one per cent look to leave the city, low-tax states such as Florida, which does not levy income tax, are set to become 'big winners', with Mr Benaim claiming property agents are 'rubbing their hands' at the prospect of wealthy buyers flooding into the state. Mr Boyd said that he has been inundated with enquiries in recent weeks from business executives looking to move full-time to South Florida, which he called 'the sixth borough of Manhattan'. Republicans have been quick to cash in on the so-called 'Mamdani effect', with Jack Ciattarelli, a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, inviting business owners to move to the state. 'To all the residents and business owners of New York City who don't want a socialist, defund the police, anti-Semitic mayor representing them, I encourage you to move to New Jersey,' Mr Ciattarelli wrote on X. Even members of Mr Mamdani's own party have sought to distance themselves from him, with John Fetterman, the centrist Democratic senator, describing the state assembly member's nomination as 'Christmas in July for the GOP'. Kathy Hochul, the New York Governor, also refused to endorse Mr Mamdani's tax rises in the lead up to the primary, telling reporters: 'I don't want to lose any more people to Palm Beach.' It is not only Mr Mamdani's fiscal policy that has generated consternation among New York's business leaders. A self-described 'anti-Zionist', the mayoral candidate is a staunch Palestinian supporter and incensed members of the Jewish community by refusing to condemn the phrase 'globalise the intifada'. In a city with the biggest Jewish population outside of Israel, this is a major problem, according to Greg Kraut, the CEO of KPG funds, the largest office developer in New York. 'I've probably had about 30 phone calls from clients who are very nervous,' he said. 'Any time there is a headline that says 'anti-Semite socialist wins Democratic party election', that's not good for business, is it?' Experts also fear that Mr Mamdani's plans to pay for free public transport and universal free childcare with tax rises on the wealthy are unrealistic. 'If you are making a million or more in New York City, going from four per cent to six per cent in income tax is a 50 per cent tax increase - it's substantial,' said Nicole Gelnas, a senior fellow focused on Urban Economics at the Manhattan Institute. According to the city's independent budget office, one per cent of households pay 40 per cent of city income taxes, with non-resident tax payers making up the fastest growing group of New York taxpayers. 'It doesn't take many of them to say, 'I can spend eight months a year in Florida and come back here whenever and save myself a lot of money,' to change the tax base,' Ms Gelnas added. Luxury real estate dealers fear Mr Mamdani's support for de-funding the police and abolishing prisons will drive down property prices. He has also endorsed decriminalising prostitution and pledged to block US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents' efforts to deport undocumented migrants. The last democratic socialist elected mayor of New York was David Dinkins, whose three-year term in office from 1990 was marked by racial discord, a drug epidemic, high levels of homelessness and a soaring murder rate. 'Crime was through the roof, businesses were fleeing and public services weren't being met,' recalled Mr Kraut, warning that the election of Mr Mamdani could herald a return to those dark days. 'People have called me up from Chicago saying: 'You guys are up next,'' he cautioned. Mr Mamdani romped to victory thanks in part to a tidal wave of support from young voters, enamoured with his progressive agenda and slick social media campaign. However, real estate agents warned that wealthy liberal voters' preoccupation with radical left-wing politics is naive. 'Everyone's a liberal until they lose their limo,' said Mr Kraut. 'If those companies and ultra net worth individuals choose to leave the city, your tax base goes bye bye.' Reflecting on the long-term effects on America's wealthiest city, he added: 'New York always survives, but it's just another nail in the coffin.' Mr Boyd warned that the primary result could spook investors in the long-term, potentially sending the city into a downward spiral. He said: 'There's a very significant concern among job creators, investors and the real estate industry that New York is now always one election cycle from being a socialist-run city.'
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Who is Zohran Mamdani's wife? How pro-Palestine artist met NYC mayor candidate in very modern way
As socialist Zohran Mamdani stunned the New York City 's mayor's race by winning the Democratic primary this week, his wife became an unexpected overnight star. Mamdani's illustrator wife Rama Duwaji, 27, had been low-key during her husband's social media-driven campaign before joining him on stage when he celebrated victory on Tuesday night. Some critics of the left-wing candidate, 33, had even accused him of 'hiding his wife from NYC' during his bruising primary against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. But Duwaji was all smiles as she marked her husband's victory on stage, and wrote on Instagram that she 'couldn't possibly be prouder' of him as he shocked his establishment opponent. Mamdani, who met his wife on the dating app Hinge, lovingly addressed Duwaji in front of his crowd on Tuesday, saying 'Rama, thank you' as he kissed her hand. The potential future First Lady of the Big Apple says on her Instagram bio that she is 'from Damascus', however a Mamdani campaign spokesperson told the New York Times that she was actually born in Texas. She is best known for her illustrations and animations, many of which are pro-Palestine themed and criticize Israel and the Trump administration. Duwaji's artwork has appeared in numerous galleries including London's Tate Modern, and has been included in news outlets including the New Yorker, the BBC and the Washington Post. As his wife's lack of presence on the campaign trail became a source of ammunition for his opponents, Mamdani took on his critics with an Instagram post of his own. 'If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day for that matter, you know how vicious politics can be,' Mamdani wrote alongside images from their civil ceremony. 'I usually brush it off, whether it's death threats or calls for me to be deported. But it's different when it's about those you love. 'Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk's office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race – which should be about you – about her.' He added: 'You can critique my views, but not my family... (Rama) isn't just my wife, she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.' Among Duwaji's recent artworks shared to her Instagram include calls to release previously detained Columbia student and pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was locked up by the Trump administration for months without being charged with a crime before he was freed last week. In May, she also shared an animation condemning Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza, which showed a woman holding a bowl that read 'it's not a hunger crisis... it is deliberate starvation.' Duwaji's thrust into the limelight comes as her husband rapidly rose to national prominence with his surprise victory this week. The 33-year-old has faced mounting questions about his experience since he gained traction and ultimately won the Democratic primary, with his only public service work coming as a state assemblyman. In the state assembly, Mamdani promoted few bills, and his legislative record includes co-sponsoring bills requiring prisons to house inmates based on their self-declared gender, preventing law enforcement from asking about a perp's immigration status, and forcing small businesses to make their product packaging eco-friendly. Critics have said a Mamdani win will see the Big Apple slide back into the type of permissive lawlessness that scarred the city during the COVID crisis, but which woke locals and lawmakers scoffed at. When asked by Good Morning America this week about his lack of experience, Mamdani avoided talking about his record and turned the question back on his recent run for mayor. 'The experience that I show in this moment is to be able to meet the crisis that New Yorkers are facing, and deliver them a new kind of city,' he said. 'One that is unencumbered by the old ways.' Mamdani has described himself as 'Trump's worst nightmare', and his far-left policy platform sharply divided the nation as he gained traction in the mayor's race. He says he wants to raise taxes on the top one percent of New York earners - something the mayor does not have the authority to do - and make a number of city services free including childcare and buses. The city assemblyman has also proposed spending $65 million on transgender care, freezing rent on rent-stabilized apartments, and creating city-owned grocery stores. He has also advocated for defunding the city's police department, defended pro- Palestine slogans like 'globalize the intifada' - which critics say is an anti-Semitic call for the destruction of Israel - and said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
