In a landmark win, Democrat Zohran Mamdani , 34, celebrated his victory in the closely fought New York City mayoral race with an uplifting speech in Brooklyn.
Set to become the city’s youngest mayor in around 100 years, Mamdani spoke to the crowd about bringing "hope" during a time of "darkness."
Reaffirming his identity and political stance, Mamdani addressed criticism of his age, faith, and ideology while reflecting on his unconventional rise to power and what it represents for New York’s future.
"The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a Democratic socialist . And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this," Mamdani said in his speech.
"New York will remain a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. Hear me, President Trump: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us," he added.
Muslims celebrate Mamdani’s victory
When Mamdani is sworn in as mayor on January 1, he will become the highest-ranking Muslim elected official in the United States. His victory marks a milestone for New York’s Muslim community , which has long felt underrepresented in the city’s public life.
“I voted early, and I cried,” Sumaiya Chowdhury, a resident of Bayside, Queens, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. Before the election, she admitted she never imagined a Muslim could be elected mayor of New York.
By late Tuesday, Mamdani had received around one million votes, roughly half of the more than two million cast, marking the highest turnout for a New York City mayoral race in over 50 years.
“It feels good that he is Muslim, but it’s not important; it’s about what it can do for the community, the people. New York is an expensive place, but if you make it affordable, then that is good for everybody.” Tarek Mnawer, another resident, said.
The high cost of living in New York City, or "affordability" as Mamdani summed it up, was the central theme of his campaign. It resonated with many working-class voters, including first-time voters, and drew strong support from working-class Muslims.
Mamdani’s campaign relied on traditional grassroots efforts, sending volunteers to door-to-door outreach in heavily Muslim and South Asian neighborhoods across Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Voters were engaged in Arabic, Bangla, and Urdu, helping Muslim and South Asian communities become some of his earliest and strongest supporters.
“Muslims are literally everywhere in the city,” Rana Abdelhamid, the founder of a Queens nonprofit, was quoted as saying by the NYT. “Educators, business owners from bodegas. Walk down the street, you’re going to get halal food. We’ve been the backbone of so many parts of the city for so long, and now this is our time.”
Since the September 11 attacks, Muslim New Yorkers have often faced overt Islamophobia. Community leaders and organizers anticipate that his political ascent will boost engagement among Muslims and South Asians across the city.
Set to become the city’s youngest mayor in around 100 years, Mamdani spoke to the crowd about bringing "hope" during a time of "darkness."
Reaffirming his identity and political stance, Mamdani addressed criticism of his age, faith, and ideology while reflecting on his unconventional rise to power and what it represents for New York’s future.
"The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a Democratic socialist . And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this," Mamdani said in his speech.
MAMDANI: I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist,
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) November 5, 2025
and most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this. pic.twitter.com/9qhrwvcgYA
"New York will remain a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. Hear me, President Trump: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us," he added.
Muslims celebrate Mamdani’s victory
When Mamdani is sworn in as mayor on January 1, he will become the highest-ranking Muslim elected official in the United States. His victory marks a milestone for New York’s Muslim community , which has long felt underrepresented in the city’s public life.
“I voted early, and I cried,” Sumaiya Chowdhury, a resident of Bayside, Queens, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. Before the election, she admitted she never imagined a Muslim could be elected mayor of New York.
By late Tuesday, Mamdani had received around one million votes, roughly half of the more than two million cast, marking the highest turnout for a New York City mayoral race in over 50 years.
“It feels good that he is Muslim, but it’s not important; it’s about what it can do for the community, the people. New York is an expensive place, but if you make it affordable, then that is good for everybody.” Tarek Mnawer, another resident, said.
The high cost of living in New York City, or "affordability" as Mamdani summed it up, was the central theme of his campaign. It resonated with many working-class voters, including first-time voters, and drew strong support from working-class Muslims.
Mamdani’s campaign relied on traditional grassroots efforts, sending volunteers to door-to-door outreach in heavily Muslim and South Asian neighborhoods across Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Voters were engaged in Arabic, Bangla, and Urdu, helping Muslim and South Asian communities become some of his earliest and strongest supporters.
“Muslims are literally everywhere in the city,” Rana Abdelhamid, the founder of a Queens nonprofit, was quoted as saying by the NYT. “Educators, business owners from bodegas. Walk down the street, you’re going to get halal food. We’ve been the backbone of so many parts of the city for so long, and now this is our time.”
Since the September 11 attacks, Muslim New Yorkers have often faced overt Islamophobia. Community leaders and organizers anticipate that his political ascent will boost engagement among Muslims and South Asians across the city.
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