Zohran Mamdani: 7 Lesser Known Facts About NYC's Mayor Candidate

Zohran Mamdani is the son of acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair (known for Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, etc.) and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent scholar on African politics

All images from Instagram

Zohran was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York City as a child. He grew up in Manhattan and attended local public schools, giving him firsthand experience with the city's education system

He represents Assembly District 36 in Queens, which includes parts of Astoria and Long Island City. He was elected in 2020 after defeating a long-time incumbent

Mamdani is a proud member of the DSA, advocating for policies like housing for all, climate justice, and workers' rights

Before holding office, he worked as a housing counselor, helping tenants fight illegal evictions. His experience on the ground shaped much of his housing-first policy agenda

He is also a rapper and he raps under the name Mr. Cardamom. His music often blends humor with social commentary, addressing issues like gentrification and cultural identity

Mamdani has been vocal about subway justice, pushing for fare-free transit and an end to police crackdowns on fare evasion. He's also supported broader criminal justice reform and Palestinian solidarity