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(NewsNation) — Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has the chance to be New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
The 33-year-old’s family came to the United States when he was 7 years old. He was born to Indian parents in Kampala, Uganda. His mother is Mira Nair, an Indian filmmaker who comes from a Hindu family. His father is a professor at Columbia University and is Muslim.
Mamdani has referred to himself as a “proud Muslim,” and he says his identity as a Muslim American is an integral part of his political and personal life. He also says it forms the foundation for his fight against injustice and inequality.
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The mayoral hopeful supports a number of progressive causes, including LGBTQ rights and the legalization of marijuana, despite the fact that Islam forbids homosexual acts and the use of drugs.
That’s not the only position that puts him at odds with Muslim constituents. Mamdani has characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, but says he believes Israel has the right to exist as a nation. That stance has provoked protesters on the campaign trail who say he is too soft on Israel and has strayed from his Muslim roots, according to the New York Times.
Zohran Mamdani speaks during his victory party in the Queens borough of New York City on June 25, 2025. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Mamdani opposes any restrictions on abortion, while Islam promotes the sanctity of human life and does not widely accept unlimited access to abortion. He also supports transgender rights and identity, while Islam traditionally recognizes two biological sexes.
