USA | Zohran Mamdani: Not just for the lucky few

Jacobin magazine is calling it a "nationwide political earthquake," and tensions are building on Wall Street, while thousands celebrated Zohran Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York. He has a strong chance of being elected the first Muslim mayor in what is by far the most populous city in the United States, in a race against independent incumbent Eric Adams.

Mamdani belongs to the left wing of his party and has been a member of the Democratic Socialists since 2017. To finance his election campaign, the 33-year-old relied on a grassroots campaign and utilized viral social media videos, while his main rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is twice his age, took the mainstream route of big donors. Even Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, felt compelled to comment on the proceedings in New York City, calling Mamdani a "100 percent communist lunatic."

When he describes himself as "Trump's worst nightmare," that is of course heavy-handed campaign marketing. But for the ultra-right politician, the left-wing up-and-comer does not fit into the white-dominated worldview at all: Born in 1991 in Kampala, Mamdani grew up as the son of a Ugandan political scientist and the Indian film director Mira Nair ("Salaam Bombay!"). Mamdani likes to wear casual white shirts with an ethnic touch, which he sometimes swaps for a suit and tie during public appearances. After the family moved to the USA, he attended the Bronx High School of Science and studied African Studies at Bowdoin College in Maine. There he co-founded a student group that advocated for Palestinian issues. He also campaigned against foreclosures, for climate protection, and for the LGBT+ community. His attempts as an African-American rapper were largely unsuccessful.

His political career is still relatively short. He has been a member of the New York State Legislature since 2020. During his election campaign, he not only scored points with slogans against "Trump fascism," but also had a clear message for New Yorkers: "A life of dignity should not be reserved for the fortunate few." His platform reflects this: rent freezes, support for reliable and affordable public transportation, free childcare, and low-cost public grocery stores, paid for by slightly higher taxes on corporations and the super-rich.

His surprising success is likely to intensify the intra-party confrontation among the Democrats. The establishment has appeared perplexed since Trump's victory, while mostly young politicians are demanding a clear left-wing course. They may feel strengthened by the developments in New York.