Copyright newsweek
The New York City mayoral election has drawn national attention in a way it rarely has in years past as former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces off as an independent candidate with New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Each candidate offers a competing vision for the city, with Mamdani holding a commanding lead going into election day. However, Cuomo and Sliwa remain committed to the race and will see it through to the end. However, major issues such as housing, public safety, and affordability are expected to drive turnout and dominate future policy debates in City Hall, whichever candidate wins. Here’s what to know about Mamdani and his platform. Who Is Zohran Mamdani? Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York City at age 7. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and, if elected, would be the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. He is the son of film director Mira Nair and Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and graduated from Bowdoin College. Before entering politics, Mamdani was a housing counselor, assisting low-income homeowners in Queens. Known for activism, Mamdani participated in a successful hunger strike alongside taxi drivers to secure over $450 million in debt relief and advocated for increased investment in public transit. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing the 36th district in Queens, and was later re-elected unopposed in 2022 and 2024. Initially considered a long shot with just a 1 percent chance of winning the Democratic primary, Mamdani’s first victory over Cuomo shook the Democratic establishment and the country as a whole, even drawing the attention of President Donald Trump, who has tried to sway voters to back Cuomo over Mamdani. Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (C) speaks during a campaign event with New York City elected officials on November 1, 2025, in the Queens borough of New York City. With only days left in the race for New York City’s next mayor, Mamdani remains the frontrunner against Independent candidate, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. What Are Zohran Mamdani’s Policy Proposals? Mamdani is running on a populist and progressive platform focused heavily on affordability by trying to alleviate the financial burdens on working-class New Yorkers. However, critics have alleged that his policies are lofty and will prove difficult, if not impossible, to implement. To fund these initiatives, Mamdani has suggested raising taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers, something that would likely require cooperation with and support from Albany. Key aspects of his platform include: Rent Freeze and Housing Construction: Mamdani promises to freeze rent for the more than 2 million residents in rent-stabilized units and launch construction of 200,000 union-built, 100 percent affordable homes over the next decade. Free, Fast Buses: The Mamdani campaign proposes making city buses fare-free and improving their speed through dedicated bus lanes and expanded service. Universal Child Care: Mamdani’s signature policy is providing free childcare for children from 5 weeks to 5 years old. City-Owned Grocery Stores: To tackle food insecurity and keep grocery prices low, Mamdani wants to create a network of city-owned stores, starting with one store in each borough as a pilot program. Department of Community Safety: Instead of traditional policing models, Mamdani proposes a new agency focusing on mental health programs, crisis response, and prevention of gun and hate violence. Strengthening Sanctuary Laws: Mamdani says he would not only maintain but strengthen New York’s sanctuary city protections for undocumented immigrants. Congestion Pricing and Transportation: Mamdani supports maintaining congestion pricing and expanding access for pedestrians within the congestion zone. He would also focus on cleaner streets and more efficient garbage collection. What Has Mamdani Said About Cuomo and Sliwa? Mamdani responded to criticism from Cuomo by saying: “To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace. I have never cut Medicaid. I have never stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the M.T.A.,” he said. “I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records, and I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.” He also took issue with Cuomo continually mispronouncing his name, saying, “furthermore, the name is Mamdani.” Mamdani has meanwhile not said much about Sliwa outside of addressing some of his concerns during debates. What Happens Next The mayoral election is set for November 4, with early voting taking place since October 25.
