Cricket player, marathon runner and Mayor of New York?

Zohran Mamdani, 34, could soon make history in New York City. The Democratic candidate, a lifelong sports lover and community activist, is the clear favorite heading into today’s election in the Big Apple.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Born in Kampala, Uganda, on October 18, 1991, and raised in South Africa, Mamdani’s path to City Hall has been anything but typical. A Muslim of Indian descent, he comes from a family steeped in culture and academia. His mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2001 for “Monsoon Wedding,” while his father, historian Mahmood Mamdani, is a noted author and anthropology professor at Columbia University.

After moving to the United States, Mamdani attended the Bronx High School of Science, one of New York’s most prestigious public schools. There, he co-founded the school’s first cricket team and served as co–editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.

Rapper, runner, politician

Long before entering politics, Mamdani was known on the local hip-hop scene. As a teenager, he performed under the name Young Cardamom, later rebranding himself as Mr. Cardamom. He met his future wife, artist Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge.

A graduate in African Studies, Mamdani has also twice completed the New York City Marathon, in 2022 and 2024, finishing with times of 6:04:52 and 5:38:10. He often uses running as a metaphor for persistence and purpose. “Running helps me disconnect and prepare for big moments,” he has said.

A campaign built on passion and purpose

Mamdani’s campaign blends policy ambition with personal storytelling. A strong advocate for working-class New Yorkers, he has pledged to double the minimum wage if elected. His marathon bibs have become part of his political message: in 2022, he ran wearing a shirt that read, “Eric Adams raised my rent!” Two years later, he followed up with, “Eric Adams raised my rent... and Zohran will freeze it.” Both slogans targeted the city’s current mayor and housing policies.

Reflecting on those races, Mamdani called them some of his most meaningful days: “I ran the marathon, learned a bit about politics, and fell in love again, with my friends, my family, and my city.”

Sports as political training ground

The candidate often credits cricket with shaping his political outlook. “It taught me how unity with like-minded people can turn rhetoric into reality,” he said. Whether on the field or the campaign trail, Mamdani’s message is the same: teamwork, perseverance, and belief in collective action can transform communities.

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