By Qamar Bashir
Zorhan Mamdani, the first South Asian, first Muslim, and first immigrant in serious
contention for the mayorship of New York City, is no ordinary candidate. At just 38
years of age, with a radiant forehead, a disarming smile, and eyes that sparkle with
conviction, he has become a symbol of possibility in a system long rigged against
outsiders. Yet from the moment he clinched victory in the Democratic primary—stunning
the political elite—his journey has been met with a resistance unparalleled in the annals
of modern American municipal politics.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, and raised in the U.S. from the age of seven, Mamdani
personifies a generation molded by the American dream yet scarred by systemic
exclusion. His ascent through the ranks of local politics was not accidental—it was
forged in the fire of grassroots mobilization, tireless door-knocking, and fearless
messaging grounded in the everyday struggles of working-class New Yorkers. He
achieved the unthinkable when he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the
Democratic primary—a titan of influence, wealth, and elite connections with roots that
run all the way to Washington.
That upset victory sent shockwaves through both political parties. The Democratic
establishment, accustomed to anointing successors, scrambled to contain the insurgency.
The GOP, meanwhile, saw in Mamdani not merely a political opponent, but a threat to
the status quo they’ve long defended. From the very next day, the attacks began—not
measured critiques, but demonizations. President Donald Trump, in a now-viral clip
alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed Mamdani as a “lunatic
communist.” Netanyahu, with a chuckle, added, “He’s mayor now?” The smirk wasn’t
just dismissive—it was chilling. The machinery of institutional power had been activated.
The backlash intensified rapidly. Jewish advocacy groups labeled him an anti-Semite for
his pro-Palestinian stance and previous associations with slogans like “globalize the
Intifada,” despite his repeated clarifications that his critiques were of government
policies, not religious communities. Right-wing media and conservative evangelicals
branded him a “radical Islamic sympathizer.” Threats escalated, targeting his safety, his
citizenship, and his family. What began as political opposition devolved into personal
vilification, an orchestrated campaign to break his spirit and discredit his legitimacy.
In one televised appearance, Mamdani struggled to hold back tears while reading aloud
hateful messages sent to his loved ones. These weren’t ordinary criticisms; they were
dehumanizing attacks meant to remind him that, in the eyes of the power elite, his
existence in public life was conditional, his dreams illegitimate. The vitriol implied a
brutal truth—that a South Asian, Muslim immigrant may sweep floors or drive a cab in
New York, but aspiring to lead it is a step too far.
As the general election looms, the obstacles grow more daunting. His opponents are flush
with millions in campaign cash, much of it from shadowy donors. Spoiler candidates
have emerged overnight, designed to divide progressive votes. The city’s convoluted
electoral procedures create fertile ground for legal contestation, recounts, and
administrative sabotage. There is even the looming threat of federal scrutiny—an
extreme, but not unimaginable, tactic in today’s charged political climate.
But through all this, Mamdani’s base is only growing stronger. He has galvanized a
diverse coalition: working mothers in the Bronx, Bangladeshi storeowners in Queens,
idealistic youth in Brooklyn, and Harlem’s reform elders. They see in him more than a
candidate—they see a champion for those long ignored, a voice that echoes their
frustrations, and a leader who walks beside them, not above them.
However, with this support comes danger—the danger of being baited into battles not his
to fight. Much of the controversy surrounding Mamdani’s campaign has nothing to do
with garbage collection, housing shortages, transit reform, or public safety—the issues
that matter to New Yorkers. Instead, his critics have shifted focus to foreign policy
questions irrelevant to the mayoral office: Will he visit Israel first? Does he support the
Palestinian Intifada? Would he arrest Netanyahu or Modi if they visit the city? These are
traps—not debates. They are lures designed to shift the narrative from potholes and
public housing to geopolitics and ideological warfare, where Mamdani can be painted as
divisive and dangerous.
This is where discipline is required. Mamdani must rise above these distractions and
resist the temptation to respond to every provocation. His focus must remain on New
York—the city’s crumbling infrastructure, unaffordable rents, stagnant wages, and racial
disparities in policing and healthcare. His promise lies not in foreign affairs, but in fixing
failing subways, reducing gun violence, expanding after-school programs, and restoring
dignity to the underserved. The best rebuttal to hate is competence. And the best response
to slander is service.
Still, even if he wins in November, the road ahead remains treacherous. Victory will be
followed by a confirmation process with the city’s Election Commission and a transition
period where outgoing officials—some openly hostile—may seek to delay or undermine
his authority. His formal assumption of office in January 2026 is not guaranteed until
every bureaucratic hurdle is cleared. The system, with all its invisible levers, may yet try
to disqualify him—not through ballots, but through bureaucracy.
This battle is no longer just about a mayor’s office. It’s about whether America truly
believes in what it professes: liberty and justice for all. When an American citizen—who
pays taxes, pledges allegiance, and serves his community—is treated as a suspect rather
than a statesman, the nation must pause. When his ambition is questioned not on merit
but on ethnicity, the illusion of inclusion stands exposed.
Yet there is hope. At the street level, the cynicism of institutions meets the decency of
people. Millions of New Yorkers see Mamdani not as a foreigner, but as one of their
own—raised on city streets, shaped by its rhythms, and determined to heal its wounds.
His campaign is not merely a political movement; it is a referendum on whether
democracy still functions when tested.
If Zorhan Mamdani wins, it will be more than personal triumph. It will affirm that this
nation can still defy its darker instincts. That a campaign built on subway fares, small
donations, and sheer willpower can beat back dynasties, donors, and demagogues. But if
he is denied his victory through media manipulation, electoral trickery, or manufactured
scandal, it will be a stark indictment of the American promise—a sign that we have failed
to rise above the narrowness of race, religion, and riches.
Let sanity prevail. Let New York be guided not by fear, but by fairness. Let this beautiful
country—with all its promise and all its pain—choose a path of justice, inclusion, and
integrity. Because the world is watching. And Zorhan Mamdani’s march may well be
America’s last great test.
About writer: Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister, Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC | Macomb, Michigan, USA
