University of Kwazulu-Natal

Zohran Mamdani S Meteoric Rise From Rapper To Aspiring N Y Mayor

Bonisiwe Shabane
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zohran mamdani s meteoric rise from rapper to aspiring n y mayor

Zohran Mamdani reacts as he walks on stage to speak at a mayoral election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani tries to talk to pedestrians while surrounded by reporters in New York, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the mayoral election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, right, walks off the stage with his mother, Mira Nair, second from right, his wife Rama Duwaji, and father Mahmood Mamdani, after making his acceptance speech at election night watch party,... 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani talks with Rita Bellevue as she waits at a bus stop in New York, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The 34-year-old politician has gone from aspiring rapper to New York City's mayor-elect - angering Donald Trump along the way. How did he get here? Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani will become New York City's next mayor after he swept to victory in a decisive win.

His rise to political stardom was complete late on Tuesday night when he was projected to have won the mayoral contest, which will see him sworn in to replace Eric Adams in January. In a fiery acceptance speech, Mr Mamdani, the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York, said: "If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is... The 34-year-old is the youngest person in a century to be elected as the city's mayor. The democratic socialist is set to become the city's first Muslim mayor. Zohran Mamdani has made New York City history with his ascendant election victory Tuesday night, ABC News projects. "The future us in our hands," he said in a passionate victory speech.

New Yorkers chose Mamdani to become the city's 111th mayor, and with that title Mamdani will represent several firsts in the city's three-and-a-half-century existence. When Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1, he will become the city's first Muslim and first New Yorker of South Asian descent to be mayor -- as well as the city's first African-born mayor. Zohran Mamdani has stormed onto the national political scene by winning New York City's mayoral election Zohran Mamdani's Rise: From Queens Lawmaker to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts as he walks on stage to speak at a mayoral election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov.

4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) NEW YORK (AP) — When he announced his run for mayor last October, Zohran Mamdani was a state lawmaker unknown to most New York City residents. But that was before the 34-year-old democratic socialist crashed the national political scene with a stunning upset over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary. Video by The Breakfast Club.

Zohran Mamdani laid out a bold, people-first agenda for NYC, declaring, “People just want dignity and they want to feel safe.” Zohran Mamdani, a Ugandan-born, Astoria-based New York State Assembly member and democratic socialist, joined The Breakfast Club (video above) to discuss his journey from aspiring rapper to progressive politician. Selling mixtapes on buses taught him how to tell stories, face rejection, and engage strangers, skills he says now fuel his political organizing. Mamdani’s campaign centers on three bold policies: To fund these changes, he proposes raising $10 billion through higher taxes on corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Specifically, he would match New Jersey’s 11.5% corporate tax rate and add a 2% tax on those earning more than $1 million a year.

Video by Young Cardamom & HAB. Kanda (Chap Chap) is their 2015 debut single featuring Zohran Mamdani.

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Zohran Mamdani reacts as he walks on stage to speak at a mayoral election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani tries to talk to pedestrians while surrounded by reporters in New York, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Zohran Mamdani Speaks After Winning The Mayoral Election, Tuesday, Nov.

Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the mayoral election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, right, walks off the stage with his mother, Mira Nair, second from right, his wife Rama Duwaji, and father Mahmood Mamdani, after making his acceptance speech at election night watch party,... 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Talks With Rita

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani talks with Rita Bellevue as she waits at a bus stop in New York, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The 34-year-old politician has gone from aspiring rapper to New York City's mayor-elect - angering Donald Trump along the way. How did he get here? Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani will become New York City's next mayor after he swept to vi...

His Rise To Political Stardom Was Complete Late On Tuesday

His rise to political stardom was complete late on Tuesday night when he was projected to have won the mayoral contest, which will see him sworn in to replace Eric Adams in January. In a fiery acceptance speech, Mr Mamdani, the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York, said: "If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is... The 34-year-old is the youngest pers...

New Yorkers Chose Mamdani To Become The City's 111th Mayor,

New Yorkers chose Mamdani to become the city's 111th mayor, and with that title Mamdani will represent several firsts in the city's three-and-a-half-century existence. When Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1, he will become the city's first Muslim and first New Yorker of South Asian descent to be mayor -- as well as the city's first African-born mayor. Zohran Mamdani has stormed onto the national polit...