Democratic Party mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is joined on the campaign trail by Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Aug. 4, 2025 in New York City. (Fox 5 New York)
Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born state lawmaker from the New York City borough of Queens, shocked the political world in late June by coming from behind to top former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates to capture the Democratic Party mayoral nomination in the overwhelmingly blue city.
Thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living, along with a massive grassroots army of supporters, and the backing of progressive champions Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Mamdani surged to a primary victory.
MAMDANI FACES BACKLASH FOR OPULENT WEDDING CELEBRATION
Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He also proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5 and setting up government-run grocery stores.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo attends the funeral of the NYPD office killed in last week's mass shooting in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Cuomo, at a campaign event on Monday, continued to target Mamdani as he unveiled his own public safety proposal for the city.
The former governor has called Mamdani "anti-police," arguing he "doesn't understand the need for public safety."
Mamdani, in the wake of last week's mass shooting in a midtown Manhattan office building, has faced renewed scrutiny over past statements made on social media in 2020 when he called for defunding the police multiple times.
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Warren's event with Mamdani was part of a multipronged push to support him in his push for New York City mayor.
The senator, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination, also released a social media video praising Mamdani and wrote an opinion piece that appeared in Rolling Stone.
Fox News' Emma Woodhead contributed to this story
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-dem-senator-reveals-socialist-mamdani-is-what-her-party-should-look-like-you-bet