Zohran Kwame Mamdani, born on October 18, 1991, is an American politician currently serving as the 112th mayor of New York City since January 1, 2026. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, he moved to New York City at the age of seven. Before becoming mayor, Mamdani represented the 36th New York State Assembly District from 2021 to 2025, covering the Astoria neighborhood in Queens. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Mamdani's political platform is centered on making New York City more affordable. His key policy proposals include free city buses, a rent freeze for rent-stabilized housing, and the creation of city-operated grocery stores to lower food prices. He also advocates for universal child care, the construction of 200,000 new affordable housing units, public safety reform, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030. Recently, Mamdani issued an executive order aimed at protecting New Yorkers from what he describes as "abusive immigration enforcement" by the Trump administration, reaffirming the city's sanctuary city laws. This order prevents city agencies from sharing information with federal immigration authorities, except when legally required, and launches a "Know Your Rights" campaign to educate residents about their rights when interacting with ICE.