Race, religion, and the New York City mayoral race

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In an emotional speech, Zohran Mamdani defends his faith against "racist and baseless" attacks.

It was inevitable that in the 2025 New York City mayoral contest, race has become a significant and controversial factor, fueled by rhetoric from opponents of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, who is Indian American and a Muslim.

The controversy grew more heated after Indian American Mamdani's used the word "auntie" emerged from his emotional speech on October 25, in which he spoke out against what he described as anti-Islamic attacks on his campaign.

In his speech, Mamdani described the discrimination he faced while growing up in the shadow of 9/11, including how his name could be misconstrued and his family's fears. He recalled how one of his "aunties" was so frightened that she stopped taking the subway while wearing her hijab, "as if her existence itself was a provocation".

In Asian Indian culture, the term "auntie" is used as a broad term of respect for any older woman with whom one has a social or familial connection, not only a blood relative. The use of "auntie" can extend to neighbors, close family friends, and distant relatives, making it a culturally accepted and affectionate honorific.

His critics, hoping to catch Mamdani in a. le, criticized him for referring to his father's cousin as his "aunt," which was misinterpreted as a lie by some in the Western media and public. In his clarification, Mamdani explained that using "aunt" for a family cousin was a natural part of his South Asian upbringing. Vice President JD Vance. Vance issued a social media post mocking Mamdani for the anecdote.

Cultural norms around kinship terms vary globally. In some cultures, particularly in South Asia, terms like "auntie" and "uncle" are used more broadly than in some Western cultures. This can be a sign of respect for older individuals or reflect a sense of extended family connection.

Mamdani, who is a New York Assemblymember, described the attacks as "racist, baseless" and designed to paint him as an "other" and frighten voters.

The incident has become a focal point in the election, with Mamdani arguing that the attacks on his story are a sign of how unfamiliar right-wing media and opponents are with the realities of Islamophobia. His campaign has also garnered interest from the South Asian and Muslim communities in New York City and beyond. Backlash:
Some critics, including Republican politicians, have used Mamdani's comments to question his credibility.

Mamdani's defense

Mamdani has defended his use of the term "aunt," stating it is how he has always referred to her. He has also accused his opponents of using the issue to distract from his message and to make him appear "soft on terrorism".

A headline from the New York Post hoping
to catch Zohran Mamdani in a lie.

The incident has become a focal point in the election, with Mamdani arguing that the attacks on his story are a sign of how unfamiliar right-wing media and opponents are with the realities of Islamophobia. His campaign has also garnered interest from the South Asian and Muslim communities in New York City and beyond.

Mamdani's campaign condemned Vance's response. Mamdani described the attacks as "racist, baseless" and designed to paint him as an "other" and frighten voters. Beyond the "auntie" comment, opponents have repeatedly used divisive rhetoric centering on Mamdani's race and faith

Divisive "wedge" tactics

Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, running as an independent, made controversial remarks during an interview with a conservative radio host. When asked about a "God forbid, another 9/11" scenario with Mamdani in office, Cuomo responded with a comment that many, including Mamdani, viewed as having anti-Muslim undertones.

Eric Adams: Weeks after dropping his re-election bid, then-Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Cuomo and referred to "Islamic extremists" who were "destroying communities".

In response to the accusations of stoking Islamophobia, Cuomo accused Mamdani of using divisive political tactics, describing the situation as "the oldest, dirtiest political trick in the book".

Instead of scaring away supporters, the racist innuendoes appears to have galvanized Mamdani's base: Mamdani's campaign has rallied supporters around his identity as the city's first potential Muslim mayor, a position that resonates with younger, more progressive, and South Asian New Yorkers.

Observers note that the focus on identity-based attacks against Mamdani follows a pattern of political discourse that has become more coarse and polarized.

Some see the attacks as an attempt to leverage the unfamiliarity of Mamdani's background to sow distrust among voters.

Mamdani is of Indian/Ugandan descent, born in Uganda to an Indian Ugandan father,  author and professor Mahmood Mamdani, and an Indian American mother, filmmaker Mira Nair.

Because he was born in Africa, on his college applications he identified himself as African and Asian, which has sometimes been a point of controversy. He has stated that he does not consider himself African American in the typical US sense (descendants of enslaved Africans), but rather as an American who was born in Africa.

Asian American support

Mamdani’s success in engaging Asian communities in New York City is a key part of his winning coalition and is part of what gave him such a commanding lead over Cuomo.

It was not surprising that he did really well among South Asians but he was also able to win over a good portion of East Asians, especially among younger voters who showed up on election day during the primary.

Some credit Mamdani's extensive canvassing, multilingual mail and viral social media videos and a ground game that included volunteers who were able to speak in Asian languages for winning over Asian American electorate. “When you talk to people in the languages that they speak, literally and proverbially, about issues that they care about, they respond,” said Democratic strategist Amit Singh Bagga . “And when you don’t, they don’t.”

Despite the attacks on his faith and complicated racial heritage, as of today, Mamdani is polling ahead of Cuomo. The Assembly member who is well positioned to become New York City’s first Asian American mayor won with the support of the rapidly growing AAPI electorate. Election day is Nov. 4 but voting by mail is underway.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.