New York City elects its first Asian American mayor

 

SCREEN CAPTURE

With his mother, film director Mira Nair, at his side, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
waved to his supporters after his victory speech Tuesday night

Zohran Mamdani, who was elected as the 111th mayor on Tuesday, will make history in several other ways, including being the city's first Muslim mayor, first Indian American mayor, and the first mayor born in Africa (specifically, in Kampala, Uganda). At age 35, he will also be the youngest mayor in over a century.

"New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight -- led by immigrants," said Mamdani at his stirring victory party in Brooklyn

"So, hear tme Donald Trump when I say: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us," challenged the New York state Assemblymember.

A large reason Mamdani won was the support he received from the Asian American communities. Mamdani received 61% of the Asian electorate, according to MSNBC.ynDuring his campaign, Mamdani actively reached out to South Asian communities, releasing videos in Urdu and Bengali, and visiting temples and mosques across New York. He also received the majority of East Asian votes in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.

Mamdani's victory stunned the city's political establishment which backed Andrew Cuomo, fwho served 11 years as New York's governor. With 50.4% of the votes, the Democrats' candidate bested Republican Curtis Sliwa, 7.1% and independant Andrew Cuomo, 41.6%

It was a strange campaign that saw Repubilcan Donald Trump end Democrat former President Barack Obama endorsing the establishment candidate, former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo. who was running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) endorsed Mamdani at the week before the election. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) never did.

A self-described Democratic socialist, Mamdani was accused as being a communist by  his foes, Trump and Cuomo. His rivals tried to stir up Islamaphobia by linking him to 9/11, the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.

Mamdani appealed to voters' main concerns of affordability by campaigning on his populist promises of rent freezes for stabilized housing units, free city buses, pilot programs for city-run grocery stores and higher taxes on corporations and the ultra rich individuals.

And throughout the campaign, Donald Trump was always in the background as immigrant communities became more fearful of going out in public, attending school,  and attending religious services. Trump even threatened to withhold federal funds if Mamdani won.

“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” Mamdani said.

“This is not only how we stop Trump. It’s how we stop the next one,” Mamdani added.

“So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: ‘Turn the volume up’.”

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