Q&A with mayoral candidate Zohran K.Mamdani

New York State Assemblymember Zohran Kwame Mamdani, 33, is a standout candidate in this year's crowded mayoral race against the incumbent Eric Adams.

- ARIAMA C. LONG

Mamdani currently represents the 36th Assembly District in Astoria and Long Island City. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen, originally born and raised in Uganda. First elected to office in 2020, he was part of a wave of progressives that upended several races with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He became the first South Asian man to serve in the State Assembly, as well as the first Ugandan and only the third Muslim to ever be a member of the legislature.

He's raised $1,491,837 in private funds to date and $2,859,333 through the city's public matching funds program, according to the latest filings of the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB). About 83% of his donations are in-district and 94% are from small donors, according to the NYCCFB.

Mamdani also went viral last week for trying to confront President Donald Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan during his visit to the state Capitol.

The Amsterdam News caught up with Mamdani over the phone. Here's what he had to say about his campaign so far. (Questions and answers have been shortened or edited for space and clarity.)

AmNews: Wait, I just learned this this week. Ramadan Kareem!

Mamdani: Yes, yes, that's correct. You said it right. Thank you.

AmNews: What exactly does being a Democratic socialist mean to you? Socialist seems to carry a negative connotation in some circles.

Mamdani: To me, Democratic socialism means that everyone has what they need to live a dignified life, and New Yorkers tend to agree with that when it comes to sanitation, libraries, and the fire department. What I am arguing is that we have to extend that same belief to the things that are equally necessary, be that public transit or housing. If you need these things to live a dignified life in New York City, then they should not be things that you can be priced out of.