Who is Zohran Mamdani? This is the Democratic candidate running for mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani is one of three candidates remaining in the race to become the next mayor of New York City and he is hoping frozen rents, free bus travel and a pledge to help the city’s transgender residents will help him cross the finish line.

A man of the people, the candidate for mayor used to perform as a rapper under the name Mr. Cardamom. He also has run in the New York marathon twice and helped fund his high school’s first cricket team.

Mamdani hoping to beat Cuomo to become NYC Mayor

The 34-year-old democratic socialist has a lot of momentum after beating Cuomo in the Democratic primary on June 24.

Cuomo, was the favorite to win earlier in the year, resigned as governor in 2021 after multiple accusations of sexual harassment.

Zohran Mamdani: housing, transportation and hunger strikes

Mamdani, a Ugandan-born politician was raised in New York City, where he is in his third term representing the 36th Assembly District, which includes the Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights neighborhoods.

That the Democrat has promised to freeze rents and make bus travel free for everyone citywide shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given his history of focusing on housing and transportation reform during his time in the Assembly.

And Mamdani certainly can’t be criticized for failing to stand up for what he believes in, taking part in 15-day hunger strikes in support of New York taxi drivers, and for a ceasefire for the war in Gaza.

What are Zohran Mamdani’s plans for New York City?

The son of Columbia Professor Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, he has made making New York City a “cheaper” and “easier” place to live central to his election campaign. Although perhaps his most eye-catching pledge concerns his plans for the LGBTQIA+ community, and the city’s transgender residents.

As first reported by the New York Sun, the Mamdani administration plans to allocate $65 million to gender-affirming care for transgender New Yorkers. Of that figure, $57 million would be directed to public hospitals, community clinics, federally qualified health centers, and nonprofits providing gender-affirming care, according to Mamdani’s campaign website. The remaining $8 million would be reserved for expanded related services.

As it stands, it is unclear as to whether the money would help individuals pay for gender transition surgery, or solely medication.

Mamdani’s pledge to the LGBTQIA+ community

Mamdani’s plan to further protect New York’s LGBTQIA+ community also includes “making New York City an LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City,” in order to “strengthen and uphold the rights of queer and trans New Yorkers through multiple sanctuary protections”.

His administration also intends to “create the NYC Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs,” which would “expand and centralize the services and support for queer and trans New Yorkers”.

Mamdani’s pledge, which he describes as “necessary,” comes as a reaction to the decision made by New York hospitals to stop providing gender-affirming care, under pressure from the Trump administration.

Fierce opposition

Mamdani is way ahead in the polls, but he is facing tough criticism from some media and influencers who are making racist claims against the up-and-coming politician. The election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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