One of the biggest surprises in the Democratic race for mayor has been the groundswell of support for a previously little-known State Assemblyman from Queens — Zohran Mamdani.
Once considered a long shot, Mamdani is the youngest candidate in the race and, perhaps not coincidentally, one of the best at social media — creating videos explaining policy and the affordability crisis in the city.
What You Need To Know
- Mamdani’s policy pitches would rely on massive municipal and financial support, including free childcare for kids up to five years, free MTA buses, a $30 an hour minimum wage hike, city-owned grocery stores, building affordable housing on city-owned land and halting monthly increases on rent-stabilized tenants
- Many policy promises rely on a good relationship with the governor and legislature, if not their outright approval — like his plan to tax the 1% of highest earners, which he says would raise $10 billion
- This year, Middle East politics is sometimes a big part of the campaign debate. Now, Mamdani is battling his record. After the Oct. 7 attacks, he joined protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza — sparking calls by some critics that he’s anti-Israel or even antisemitic
- Mamdani says he supports Israel’s right to exist and his position is “always grounded in a belief of universal human rights”
One of the most liberal candidates in the race, Mamdani has also been a lightning rod for some of his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict…