Zohran Mamdani’s victory is triggering a much bigger change in American politics. He has stood up to the bullies of formidable forces in America during this campaign period, a move considered by many to be a political suicide. Yet he came out victorious, defeating a longtime heavyweight politician, Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York and part of a political dynasty.
Mamdani is the youngest mayor at 33, and the first Muslim mayor in a city that is no stranger to Islamophobia. He is a first-generation immigrant in a time when xenophobia is haunting America’s vast conservative and older segments of society. Beating all odds, Mamdani got an overwhelming victory in New York.
Though the younger generation gave him the biggest support, people from all walks of life voted for Mamdani. This happened despite his vehement criticism of Israel perpetrating child-killing and its inhuman cruelty to the Palestinians, and him openly declaring from the beginning of his campaign, whenever asked, that he would arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyu if he ever came to New York while Mamdani is the mayor.
Despite all these, a large segment of the Jewish population in New York supported and voted for him. Amazingly, he received endorsements from major Jewish organizations and prominent Jewish scholars, thinkers, writers, and politicians, including Peter Beinart, Norman Finkelstein, Bernie Sanders, and many others who frequently wrote about him, posted video messages in his support, and spoke favourably.
As a leader, this is his spectacular achievement: Despite being a young Muslim candidate, his charisma, his courage to stand up to bullies for the sake of the people, his dedication, honesty, and integrity all helped him gain the trust and confidence of diverse segments of New York. This is his real achievement in his leadership.
There is a Jewish population of about a million in New York, and there is a Muslim population of about one million in New York. Mamdani, amazingly, received huge support from both communities. As a politician, this is his most towering achievement.
Mamdani received a staggering 50.4% of the total votes cast. A phenomenal success for a newcomer whose name most people did not know a few months before the New York Primary in June 2025. And now Mamdani is a household name not only in New York but worldwide.
It is mind boggling to ponder that the most powerful people in the government, especially President Donald Trump, the richest people on Wall Street like Elon Musk and others, and the enormously powerful Zionist lobby, AIPAC, all came together to spend more money than any other campaign in America in recent times to defeat this 33-year-old Muslim. The more shamelessly the elites attacked Mamdani, the more disgracefully they fell flat on their faces when he emerged victorious several hours later.
The phenomenal victory of Mamdani shows that American democracy can work if the people are united and determined enough for the cause. His victory will inspire many young politicians and would-be politicians to follow suit. That is the hope for a paradigm shift most needed to reclaim American democracy from a repugnant state of dysfunction and authoritarianism.
Senator Bernie Sanders, the most senior and respected politician in America, made a special video message yesterday to New York voters, urging them to vote. He said, “The mayor’s election tomorrow in New York City is one of the most important elections in the modern history of the United States.”
He further elaborates: “[Mamdani’s victory will demonstrate that] a candidate can take on the oligarchs in New York, take on the president of the United States, take on the Republican establishment, take on the Democratic establishment, and win an election with an agenda that speaks to the needs of the working class and to create a government as Lincoln talked about: “Of the people, by the people, and for the people.””
This is a lesson to elites and misled politicians everywhere: If their short-sightedness, self-centredness, and corruption and abuse of power reach an extreme level, there will be consequences waiting for them when they least expect it. History is a testament to this pattern.
The tiny class of oligarchs and billionaires who have been controlling the government, rendering it a dysfunctional democracy, for the last few decades, are now threatened by Mamdani’s agenda that negates and invalidates that of the elites. His extraordinary leadership qualities, charisma, and popularity, and, above all, his enormous courage to stand up to bullies and remain uncompromising in his values and in issues that matter to the people.
This victory is a moral victory. America needs moral politics and ethical politicians because the American people have lost trust and confidence in politicians. Mamdani demonstrates that people’s trust can be regained.
As Bernie Sanders often points out, the three richest Americans own as much as the entire bottom half of the nation. Economist Thomas Piketty, in The Capital in the Twenty-First Century, noted that while the rich are getting more decadent, 60% of Americans live now from paycheck to paycheck.
This is a symptom of dysfunctional democracy. Democracy is not all about elections, separation of powers, limitations of power, and checks and balances. These are mechanisms for achieving fundamental goals: Upholding the human rights of all citizens, delivering social justice, and promoting common welfare.
The richest nation and among the oldest democracy in modern times has failed to achieve those goals in recent decades. And the condition of the richest American city, New York City, is even worse.
Mamdani’s pro-people and pro-justice agenda and his victory now demonstrate to the public that ultimate social power still rests with the people. And there are still dedicated politicians committed to fighting these predatory forces to serve the people.
Ruby Amatulla is Executive Director of Muslims for Peace, Justice and Progressive and Women for Good Governance.
