As Zohran Mamdani walked the streets of the Upper East Side for a campaign event to greet early voters, he could barely walk a few steps without being stopped by his supporters. Two smiling young women looked starstruck and told him they followed him on Instagram. The millennial Democratic nominee for mayor thanked them before posing with another young man who had readied his phone for a selfie. Throngs of press surrounded Mamdani, capturing his every moment, like running into the street to shake hands with a taxi driver shouting 'we support you, man'.
With a comfortable lead in the polls, the 34-year-old is on the brink of making history when New Yorkers vote on Tuesday — as the youngest mayor in over a century and the first Muslim and South Asian leader of the city. A relatively unknown figure just months ago, few could have predicted his rise, from hip-hop artist and housing counselor to New York State assembleyman and frontrunner to lead the biggest city in the US, a job which comes with a $116bn (£88bn) budget and global scrutiny.
Mamdani's campaign has effectively engaged disillusioned voters through social media and content creation partnerships as trust in the Democratic party wanes among its constituents. However, doubts persist about whether he can fulfill his ambitious proposals and how a newcomer will fare against a challenging national political climate, especially under a potential Trump administration.
Positioning himself as a democratic socialist, he advocates for taxing millionaires to finance expanded social programs. He has proposed policies including universal childcare, freezing rents in subsidized housing, free public buses, and city-operated grocery stores, tapping into widespread frustration over the city's cost of living.
His main competitor, former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is campaigning independent after a primary defeat, criticizes Mamdani's agenda as detrimental to New York's business environment. Republican contender Curtis Sliwa adds fuel to the fire by questioning both candidates' credentials. The outcome on election day will send significant messages about New Yorkers' desires for change versus continuity, marking a pivotal moment for the city and potentially influencing Democratic party dynamics nationwide.
With a comfortable lead in the polls, the 34-year-old is on the brink of making history when New Yorkers vote on Tuesday — as the youngest mayor in over a century and the first Muslim and South Asian leader of the city. A relatively unknown figure just months ago, few could have predicted his rise, from hip-hop artist and housing counselor to New York State assembleyman and frontrunner to lead the biggest city in the US, a job which comes with a $116bn (£88bn) budget and global scrutiny.
Mamdani's campaign has effectively engaged disillusioned voters through social media and content creation partnerships as trust in the Democratic party wanes among its constituents. However, doubts persist about whether he can fulfill his ambitious proposals and how a newcomer will fare against a challenging national political climate, especially under a potential Trump administration.
Positioning himself as a democratic socialist, he advocates for taxing millionaires to finance expanded social programs. He has proposed policies including universal childcare, freezing rents in subsidized housing, free public buses, and city-operated grocery stores, tapping into widespread frustration over the city's cost of living.
His main competitor, former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is campaigning independent after a primary defeat, criticizes Mamdani's agenda as detrimental to New York's business environment. Republican contender Curtis Sliwa adds fuel to the fire by questioning both candidates' credentials. The outcome on election day will send significant messages about New Yorkers' desires for change versus continuity, marking a pivotal moment for the city and potentially influencing Democratic party dynamics nationwide.
