One-on-one with Zohran Mamdani | Politics Unusual
FOX 5 NY’s political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani about his policy proposals, his plans to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams recent endorsement of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
NEW YORK – With Election Day here, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stands at the threshold of history, poised to reshape the country’s largest city.
The democratic socialist, who shocked the city’s political establishment with his primary victory, has held his frontrunner status in nearly every poll since.
His rapid rise reflects a generational shift in New York City politics driven by grassroots organizing and an energized base of young voters.
SKIP TO: POLLS | FAMILY | PLATFORM | DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM
Mamdani has built his campaign around affordable housing, free childcare, and fare-free public transit.
Here’s everything to know about the front-runner.
FOX 5 NY is your home on Election Night. Bookmark our Election Results page to track in real-time, and tune into our Election Night coverage live right here on fox5ny.com and FOX LOCAL New York as the night unfolds. Coverage begins at 4 p.m.
By the numbers:
The vast majority of polls reveal that the odds seem to be stacked in the Democratic Socialist’s favor:
Fox News: The poll, conducted between Oct. 24–28, shows Mamdani at 47%, Cuomo at 31% and Sliwa at 15%.Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill: The poll, conducted between Oct. 25-27, found Mamdani with a 25-point lead over Cuomo – 50% to 25% – with 21% support for Sliwa; 4% were undecided.Marist Poll: The poll, conducted between Oct. 24–28, shows Mamdani at 48%, Cuomo at 32%, Sliwa at 16% and 3% undecided. 
The backstory:
The 34-year-old Astoria, Queens assemblyman and self-declared Democratic Socialist was born in Kampala, Uganda on October 18, 1991.
He reportedly moved to New York City at age seven.
According to the Associated Press, he became naturalized as an American citizen a few years after graduating from Bowdoin College, where he co-started his school’s first Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Mamdani’s parents 
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 9: Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair attend Rolex Arts Weekend 2022 at The Brooklyn Academy Of Music – Celebration In Honour Of The Mentors And Protégés Of The 2020-2022 Rolex Mentoring Programme on September 9, 2022 in New York,
Zohran Mamdani is the son of two well-known public figures in film and academia.
His mother, Mira Nair, is an Indian-born, Harvard-educated filmmaker based in New York City.
She is known for directing films such as “Monsoon Wedding,” “Mississippi Masala,” “The Namesake” and “Salaam Bombay!” which was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film.
In addition to her film work, Nair founded the Maisha Film Lab in Kampala, Uganda, which trains young directors in East Africa. She also created the Salaam Baalak Trust, a nonprofit that works with street children in India.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 24: (L-R) New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) stands with his mother Mira Nair, and father Mahmood Mamdani as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24,
His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan academic and political scientist of Indian descent.
He is a professor at Columbia University, where he teaches government, anthropology and African studies.
Mamdani has written extensively on African politics and post-colonial governance. He previously led the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda and currently serves as chancellor of Kampala International University.
The two met in 1988 in Uganda while Nair was conducting research for her film “Mississippi Masala.”
Mamdani’s wife Rama Duwaji 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 24: New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) kisses the hand of his wife Rama Duwaji as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island Cit
Zohran Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian illustrator and animator who lives in Brooklyn.
Her work focuses on themes like sisterhood and community, and she’s collaborated with major outlets, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, Apple, and Spotify. In addition to digital art, she also makes hand-built ceramics.
The couple reportedly got married in May. According to the Mamdani campaign, they celebrated their engagement with a small family gathering in Dubai, where Duwaji’s family lives, before having a civil ceremony in New York City.
After facing online criticism over the cost of their celebration, Mamdani addressed the situation on Instagram, posting wedding photos and writing, “I usually brush it off, whether it’s death threats or calls for me to be deported. But it’s different when it’s about those you love.” He added, “Three months ago, I married the love of my life… now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her.”
Mamdani’s political rise 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 26: New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, center, celebrates with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), left, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), right, during an election rally on October 26, 2025 at Forest Hills S
Mamdani’s political rise is driven by his grassroots organizing, progressive values, and ability to connect with younger voters.
Known for his strong social media presence and activist background, he has built a platform centered on equity and community empowerment, making him a formidable candidate in the mayoral race.
His campaign has gained support from well-known progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighting a growing move toward progressive politics in the city.
See more of Mamdani’s endorsements here.
Democratic socialism is a political and economic philosophy that combines democracy with social ownership of key parts of the economy. It focuses on giving people more control over their workplaces and the economy, aiming for fairness, equality, and solidarity.
Unlike capitalism, democratic socialists believe that real freedom and equality can only happen in a socialist system where the economy serves the people, not just private profit.
Mamdani’s campaign prioritizes addressing New York City’s housing crisis with rent freezes and affordable housing initiatives. He advocates for fare-free bus rides to improve public transit access and proposes no-cost childcare to support working families.
On public safety, Mamdani plans to create a Department of Community Safety focused on violence prevention, while maintaining current police staffing levels.
If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim and first Indian-American mayor.
His campaign symbolizes a new generation of leadership and represents a historic milestone in the city’s diverse political landscape.
Mamdani’s message of economic fairness and social justice resonates with many voters seeking change. His rise reflects growing support for democratic socialist ideas in America’s largest city.
One-on-one with Zohran Mamdani | Politics Unusual
FOX 5 NY’s political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani about his policy proposals, his plans to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams recent endorsement of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Affordability and Housing
Mamdani says his top priority is tackling New York City’s affordability crisis, with a particular focus on housing. One of his first actions as mayor, he says, would be to restructure the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, the body responsible for setting rent increases on more than two million rent-stabilized apartments.
He’s criticized current Mayor Eric Adams for appointing members who “have raised rents every single year,” arguing that his administration would take the opposite approach. “The top affordability issue for New Yorkers is housing,” Mamdani said. “They feel it every single day.”
Beyond rent stabilization, Mamdani wants to dramatically expand the city’s housing supply, calling for both the private and public sectors to “build immediately affordable housing.”
Public Safety and the NYPD
Mamdani has said he would retain current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected, citing her efforts to “deliver accountability, root out corruption and reduce crime across five boroughs.” While the two diverge on issues like bail reform — which Mamdani supports and Tisch opposes — he has stated that keeping her on aligns with his goal of advancing reform without compromising his platform.
Free Public Transit
A centerpiece of Mamdani’s campaign is his plan to make all city buses free, arguing that fare-free service would increase ridership, relieve financial strain on working families, and even improve public safety. “What you’ll hear from bus drivers is that a significant portion of the assaults they face is due to the presence of the fare box,” he said. His campaign has also launched a “Costs Saved” calculator to show how much residents could save through free buses, universal childcare, and a rent freeze.
Improving Daily Life
Mamdani has also pledged to address quality-of-life issues that affect New Yorkers every day — starting with the city’s overabundance of sidewalk sheds. A 2023 report found more than 8,500 active sheds spanning 380 miles across the five boroughs, with some in place for years.
His four-step plan includes:
Removing all sheds on city properties that have been up for over three yearsExtending building inspection timelines from five to ten yearsIncentivizing faster shed removalsImplementing safer, brighter scaffolding design standards Endorsements 
Hochul endorses Mamdani in NYC mayor’s race
In a guest essay published in The New York Times, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul formally endorsed Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in NYC’s mayor’s race. FOX 5 NY’s Meredith Gorman has the story.
His campaign has gained support from well-known progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as major local figures including New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
He’s also secured the backing of the city’s largest municipal union, District Council 37, further cementing his status as the progressive favorite in the race and underscoring the broad coalition powering his campaign.
Trump’s thoughts on Mamdani 
Trump on NYC mayor’s race: ‘He’s my little communist mayor’
“I call him my little communist… it would look like he’s going to win, and that’s a rebellion,” Trump said on Fox & Friends. His comments come as Mayor Eric Adams doubles down on staying in the race and Andrew Cuomo sharpens his attacks on rivals. FOx 5 NY’s Morgan McKay has the latest.
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump referred to Zohran Mamdani as a “Communist” and claimed New York City would face “economic and social disaster” under his leadership.
Trump said he would provide only the “bare minimum” federal assistance required by law if Mamdani were elected, writing, “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm,” and that he didn’t want to “send good money after bad.”
He went on to urge New Yorkers to back Andrew Cuomo, saying they “really have no choice” but to vote for him, while dismissing Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa as a spoiler whose support would only help Mamdani.
How to vote in NYC
Election Day, is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. across the five boroughs.
Voters can confirm their polling place by visiting the New York City Board of Elections website.
The Source: This article includes reporting from the Associated Press, The New York Times and FOX 5 NY.