On November 4th, 2025, the people of New York City watched closely as each borough’s votes were counted. For weeks, polls had been pointing to one clear victor, yet on election day, the percentages were closer than predicted.
Zohran Mamdani’s face was plastered onto the windows of bodegas, subway stations, and on doors of shops in Chinatown. The brilliant smile on his posters greeted customers, and most smiled back.
His campaign was not expected. As an inexperienced lawmaker from Queens without experience in the political world, up against two major political figures, Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani had an extreme battle to even qualify for the general election.
However, even with the odds stacked against him, Mamdani’s campaign was never doomed from the start.
Social media acted as a huge factor within the early days of his campaign. Thousands of users posted videos highlighting his policy ideas, arguments, and interviews across platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and X. These videos garnered millions of views across apps, with his voice reaching not only viewers from different states, but also in the UK and Australia.
While people across continents continued to cheer him on, Mamdani’s most impactful strategy was keeping his sights on the people he was running to represent: the citizens of New York City.
With one of his main focuses being making buses free and increasing ridership of the public transit system, Mamdani himself was seen multiple times on the subway and buses across New York City. It was completely unexpected, with most politicians unwilling to meet the people where they are. Yet, Mamdani found himself on crowded trains alongside the people he hoped to represent.
Mamdani’s emphasis on supporting American immigrants resonates with the city's population; over 3 million New York City residents are immigrants. Across the country, these vulnerable populations have faced countless attacks from I.C.E. under the Trump administration. With the mayor’s verbal affirmation of protection for these residents, many have also chosen to stand beside him.
Even as he continuously faced backlash for his lack of experience within politics, his debates amongst candidates Cuomo and Sliwa proved that he could hold his own during significant discussions on policy and character. His ability to convey his points, all while keeping his focus on the people of New York City, allowed residents of the city to gain hope for a new era of NYC.
Initially Mamdani’s polling was stagnant at only 1% of Democratic supporters in February 2025, but as he slowly found support from New Yorkers, his percentages soared by October.
On November 4 2025, Mamdani was elected the youngest mayor New York City has seen in over a century. Winning 50.4% of the votes, the new elect has proven that there is hope for young politicians in pivotal American cities.
Zohran Mamdani brings out a hope unseen in many American citizens today, a candidate who truly sees and stands behind the people they represent. Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of the city, and his identity as a non-white American allows his goals to represent the people in a visceral and personal way.
During an era where trusting politicians seems impossible, Mamdani’s bright smile has let residents of New York City finally let their guard down. While his promises have yet to come to fruition, his strong will and first steps show promise for the next four years.
As a student living in Philadelphia, I look at New York City with a mix of jealousy and hope. Zohran Mamdani is the first step towards America being for the people who have built the country into what it is today.
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