Zohran Mamdani Surges in NYC Mayoral Race with Progressive Platform
New York City, June 15, 2025 – Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and State Assembly member from Queens, has rapidly emerged as a leading contender in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, challenging former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24.
Mamdani’s campaign, built around a bold affordability agenda, has energized the city’s progressive base. His proposals include making city buses free, freezing rents on stabilized apartments, establishing universal childcare, and launching city-run grocery stores to combat rising living costs. These policies have resonated with younger, immigrant, and working-class voters, helping Mamdani close the gap with Cuomo in recent polls. A new survey shows Mamdani leading Cuomo 35% to 31%, marking the first time he has overtaken the former governor in the race.
Mamdani’s campaign has mobilized over 20,000 volunteers and raised more than $8 million from over 17,000 donors, making him the first candidate to reach the fundraising cap for the primary. His creative outreach—featuring viral videos inspired by his South Asian heritage and Bollywood-style messaging—has further boosted his visibility and appeal.
Key endorsements have strengthened Mamdani’s coalition. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senator John Liu, the Working Families Party, and other progressive leaders have publicly backed his bid, amplifying his support among South and East Asian communities and progressive voters citywide. In a strategic move, Mamdani and fellow progressive candidate Brad Lander announced a mutual endorsement, urging their supporters to rank them as their top two choices in the city’s ranked-choice voting system.
However, Mamdani’s campaign has not been without controversy. His outspoken criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights have drawn sharp criticism from some Jewish groups and political opponents, with accusations that his positions threaten Jewish rights in the city. The race’s tone escalated after a pro-Cuomo super PAC distributed a mailer that altered Mamdani’s appearance to exaggerate his beard, a move widely condemned as Islamophobic. Mamdani’s support for abolishing ICE and other progressive stances have also raised concerns among moderate Democrats, who question the broader appeal of his platform.
Despite these challenges, Mamdani’s focus on affordability and his grassroots momentum have positioned him as a formidable alternative to Cuomo. With the primary approaching, Mamdani’s campaign continues to galvanize support, signaling a potential shift in New York City’s political landscape as voters weigh a choice between establishment politics and a new progressive vision for the city.