A Muslim socialist is close to becoming the mayor of New York - As-salamu alaykum
Yesterday, on Monday, influential businessman Elon Musk wrote that "Zokhrann represents the future of the Democratic Party." This came after New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her support for Zokhran Mamdani for the position of mayor of the city.
Zokhran Mamdani, 34, is now seen as a favorite in the mayoral race set for Tuesday, November 4. He's significantly outpacing his rivals: former governor Andrew Cuomo, 68, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, 71.
Mamdani, who calls himself a progressive socialist and openly talks about his Muslim identity, could become the first Muslim mayor of New York-a city with nearly 9 million residents. After some initial doubts within the Democratic Party due to his progressive and socialist views, party leadership eventually backed him when he beat Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams in the intraparty elections.
Besides Governor Hochul, Mamdani has support from politicians like Hakeem Jeffries and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Last week, the progressive wing of the party gathered supporters in his favor. Senator Bernie Sanders said winning in New York would give hope to people across the country and beyond, reminding everyone why opponents are so worried about these elections.
Mamdani spoke to tens of thousands of supporters, saying that a people's movement can't be bought, even if billionaires spend money on campaigns.
Initially, party elites were skeptical about him, thinking that major financial interests and demographic factors would make his chances slim. But everything changed when he openly supported Palestine, called what’s happening in Gaza genocide, promised to hold politicians accountable if necessary under the law, and proposed a socialist economic program.
He suggests raising taxes on the very wealthy and large corporations to fund social initiatives like rent control, subsidized grocery stores, free daycare, and public transport. In particular, he proposes increasing the corporate tax rate from 9% to 11.5% and introducing an additional 2% tax on incomes over $1 million-which didn't sit well with some party elites.
Some moderate leaders responded cautiously: Obama only had a phone call without a public statement of support. Observers note that Mamdani's campaign "sprang up from nowhere in just a few months," thanks to organized efforts and the active use of short videos on social media, where he directly called himself a "Muslim socialist" and a member of Democratic Socialists.
His message focuses on the main issue for city residents-the rising cost of living and housing affordability. The crime issue, which his opponents relied on, has taken a backseat.
Polls from various sources show Mamdani leads significantly: in one study, he scored about 52%, Cuomo 28%, Sliwa 14%; in another, 44% against 34% for Cuomo and 11% for Sliwa.
While the mayor doesn’t deal with foreign policy, the Middle East issue is sensitive for New York. Mamdani is the first Muslim candidate to openly criticize Israel's policies and call the situation in Gaza genocide; he supports the BDS movement while condemning anti-Semitism, labeling attacks and violence as "terrible war crimes." He promises to increase funding for programs against hate crimes.
In response to his successes, some Republicans have resorted to Islamophobic rhetoric: there have been calls for deportation and mockery of his religious affiliation. Some strong statements against him have also come from other politicians, but Mamdani himself keeps his focus on social issues and fighting discrimination.
As Muslims, we remember that Islam means submission to the will of Allah, a religion of over a billion people that has greatly influenced the history and culture of many nations. Assalamu alaikum.
https://islamnews.ru/2025/10/2