Many South Asians and Muslims in NYC and beyond electrified by Mamdani’s mayoral primary triumph

The success of Zohran Mamdani in New York Democratic primary for the mayor is euphoric for Hari Kondaboli, a standing actor who has been friends with the candidate for 15 years.

Mamdani amazed the political establishment when he declared the victory in primary on Tuesday, an election of classified choice in which his strongest competition, the former governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, conceded the defeat.

When he launched his campaign, the shameless democratic socialist ranked near the peloton. Now, the 33 -year -old state assembly has a chance to be the first American and Asian Muslim mayor in New York. Mamdani’s family came to the United States at the age of 7, and he became a citizen in 2018. He was born from Indian parents in Kampala, Uganda.

For Kondabolu, this moment is not only exciting, but emotional.

“I think that many of us have lived these experiences in New York to be brown and in a city that has always been really diverse and that looks like ours. But after September 11, as you start to question it, it is also our city,” Kondabolu said. “And 25 years later … it’s surreal, as it is the same city, but it is not because we have elected this person.”

Mamdani’s campaign has bitten the interest of many Indian Americans, Pakistani and other Americans from South Asia, as well as Muslims – even those who may not agree with Mamdani on each issue. Despite this opposition, some still consider its increase as a sign of hope in a city where racism and xenophobia broke out after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Many of more than 300,000 inhabitants in South Asia in New York have been inspired by the extraordinary trajectory of Mamdani.

“My mother had sent sms to her friends to vote for him. I have never seen my mother do this before,” Kondabolu said. “So, the idea that he had our whole family activated in this way – is, like, personal.”

Snigdha on, founder and CEO of The Juggernaut, an online publication reported on South Asians, was fascinated by the response of certain people in India and the diaspora.

“So many global South Asians … They are like” Oh, this guy is my mayor and I do not live in New York “, said on.

At the same time, some are also worried or angry by Mamdani’s past remarks on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he publicly called a “war criminal”.

In Michigan, Thasin Sardar followed the ascent of Mamdani online. When he heard it for the first time, he struck it as “authentic” and he felt “an instant connection,” he said.

“As a Muslim American, this victory makes my confidence in the people,” said Sardar, born and grew up in India. “I am happy that there are people who appreciate the candidate and his more personal religious beliefs and have not voted for the color of his skin, or of the fact that he was an immigrant with a rare name.”

New York saving Zainab Shabbir said that family members in California, and beyond, have also taken into account with enthusiasm.

“My family in California, they looked a lot like:” Oh, it’s so pleasant to see a South Asian Muslim candidate being mayor of a big city, “she said. A brother said that the climb of Mamdani is an excellent example for his children, she said.

But the 34 -year -old man – who donated, voted and solicited for Mamdani – said it was his vision for New York who was the draw for her. She and her husband briefly discussed with Mamdani during a fundraising and she found it “very friendly and authentic”.

She suspects that for some who are not very politically active, Mamdani’s political ascent could make a difference.

“There are many Muslim communities like the generation of my parents who focus much more on politics at home and less on politics here in America,” said the Shabbir. “Seeing people like Zohran Mamdani being in office, it will really change this perspective in many people.”

Supporters and experts agree that Mamdani’s campaign has demonstrated an opinion and authenticity of social media. He visited several mosques. In videos, he speaks in Hindi or gives a touch of bollywood. Other Asian Asian Asian Asian politicians such as Democrat representative Ro Khanna hailed this.

“I love that he does not flee his inheritance. I mean, he made video clips with amitabh Bachchan and Hindi films,” said Khanna, referring to the Indian actor. “He shows that we can kiss their roots and their inheritance and yet succeeds in American politics.”

But his triumph also reflects “the urgency of the economic message, the challenge that people face in terms of rent, in terms of living cost, and how to speak to this is so powerful,” added the Democrat of Progressive California.

Tanzeela Rahman, a daughter of Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, said that she grew up at “very low income” in New York.

“I felt seen by him in a way that politicians have never seen me,” said the 29 -year -old financial systems analyst. “I think very few people in government understand … how difficult it is to survive in New York.”

She found that Mamdani was “shameless Muslim” and also “a voice, which literally looks like a New Yorker who intervenes and said, hey, let’s recover our power,” she said.

While Mamdani spoke to the working class, he had a somewhat privileged education. His mother is the filmmaker Mira Nair and her father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.

He lived in Queens but attended the Bronx High School of Science. Even in adolescence, he cared about social justice, Kondabolu, the actor, recalled.

His campaign messaging on issues such as affordable housing and free bus journeys may not resonate with South Asian households in New York which have levels of median income. But, the irony is that its campaign and “a large type of sound system” also obtained the support of this demographic group, according to on.

“It was, I think, a surprise that he did so well among the richest, including his own community,” said on.

Mamdani’s frank support for Palestinian causes and criticism of Israel and its military campaign in Gaza resounded with pro-Palestinian residents, including Muslims, but caused tensions in the mayor’s breed. Some of his positions and remarks on the charged issue have achieved comprehensive opponents and certain Jewish groups, although it has also been approved by certain Jewish politicians and activists.

The success of Mamdani immediately aroused strong anti-muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric of certain high-level conservatives on social networks, including the personality of the conservative media Charlie Kirk who displayed that “legal immigration can ruin your country.” In response, the member of the Democrat Congress Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of the Congress, tweeted “For years, they sold people the lie of” We have no problem if you come in the right direction! ” »»

His supporters are not afraid that racism and Islamophobia were distributed from Mamdani’s campaign. These feelings were clearly not “sufficient for it to lose” the primary, said Kondabolu.

“There is a new generation which wants their voice to be heard and that this generation has emerged in force, not only by voting, but, like all these other people to be emotionally invested in this candidate,” said Kondabolu. “It’s extraordinary.”

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The writer Associated Press Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report.

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