What to know about Zohran Mamdani and what he wants to do in NYC

November 5, 2025

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist state assemblyman from Queens, has become New York City's first Muslim and South Asian mayor after a meteoric rise from obscurity. The Uganda-born politician energized progressive voters with an ambitious left-wing platform focused on making the expensive city more affordable through measures like rent freezes, free public buses, and city-owned grocery stores. His campaign drew both enthusiastic support from younger voters who found him authentic and harsh criticism from President Trump, who labeled him a communist and threatened to withhold federal funding.

Who is affected

New York City residents, particularly those living in one million rent-stabilized apartments
500,000 children living in poverty who go to sleep hungry nightly
Low-income New Yorkers who would benefit from cheaper grocery stores and free bus rides
Building owners who would face reduced income from rent freezes
Workers who could benefit from the proposed $30/hour minimum wage by 2030
New Yorkers earning over $1 million annually who would face a new 2% tax
Corporations operating in NYC facing higher tax rates
Social workers and mental health professionals who would respond to mental health-related 911 calls
People experiencing mental health crises

What action is being taken

No specific ongoing actions are explicitly described in the article. The article focuses on Mamdani's election victory and his proposed plans, but does not detail actions currently being implemented.

Why it matters

This election represents a significant shift in New York City politics, bringing the first Muslim and South Asian mayor to America's largest city with an explicitly progressive agenda. The outcome demonstrates the appeal of bold left-wing policies among younger voters in addressing urban affordability crises, particularly regarding housing, where Manhattan rents have increased 20% in three years. Mamdani's victory creates a potential template for progressive Democrats nationwide in connecting with voters through authentic social media engagement and addressing quality-of-life concerns that have declined significantly since 2017. The tension between Mamdani's administration and the Trump presidency, with threats of federal funding cuts, could have implications for federal-city relationships and urban governance across the country.

What's next

Mamdani plans to implement a four-year rent freeze on one million rent-stabilized apartments
He intends to create a network of city-owned grocery stores expanding beyond the current six
He plans to make public buses free and faster
He aims to raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030
He plans to create a new department of community safety with mental health workers responding to related 911 calls
He intends to raise the corporate tax rate to 11.5% and implement a 2% tax on income over $1 million to raise an estimated $9 billion
He plans to increase funding to combat hate crimes

Read full article from source: BBC