In a world overshadowed by division, inequality, oppression, wars, and cynicism, the rise of Zohran Mamdani as the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history has rekindled global faith in democracy’s promise.
He has triumphed over the entrenched powers of wealth, prejudice, and privilege that have long steered the course of American politics. His simple yet forceful message of affordability, equality, and dignity ignited a wave of hope among the disillusioned and marginalised, inspiring them to challenge the ruling elite through the strength of their collective vote. The political dominance of billionaire dynasties—such as Michael Bloomberg, Bill Ackman, Joe Gebbia, the Lauder family, Steve Wynn, Barry Diller, and Alice Walton—has been confronted and broken by a vision of democratic socialism grounded in compassion, inclusion, and economic justice.
These families collectively poured millions into the election in an attempt to preserve their influence. The billionaire-owned media, often controlled by figures like Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos, portrayed Zohran Mamdani as a dangerous radical. Donald Trump went even further, branding him not as a democratic socialist but as a “communist” to reignite Cold War fears. Trump has long weaponised religion to preserve his political influence and personal interests. “Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self-professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!” he wrote on Truth Social.
At one stage, Andrew Cuomo, speaking on a conservative radio show, remarked: “God forbid, another 9/11—can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” The host replied, “He’d be cheering.” Cuomo, who had earlier labelled Mamdani “a terrorist sympathiser,” laughed and added, “That’s another problem.”
Despite their wealth and coordinated attacks, they failed to stop Mamdani’s victory. His success represents not only a symbolic triumph of grassroots politics over corporate power but also a stirring reminder that democracy—though imperfect and susceptible to manipulation—retains the capacity for renewal when driven by the collective will of the people.
Born to Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, Zohran Mamdani confronted the ruling elite directly in his victory speech: “For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and the well-connected that power does not belong in their hands… And while we cast our ballots alone, we chose hope together. Hope over tyranny. Hope over big money and small ideas. Hope over despair. We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible. And we won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us—it is something that we do.
We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable exploiting their tenants. We will end the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxes and abuse loopholes. We will stand alongside unions and expand labour protections because we know, just as Trump does, that when working people have ironclad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed.
New York will remain a city of immigrants: built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant. And we will build a City Hall that stands firmly with Jewish New Yorkers in the fight against antisemitism, while ensuring that the more than one million Muslims know that they belong—not only in the five boroughs but in the halls of power. No longer will New York be a city where one can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election. This new age will be defined by competence and compassion—values too long treated as opposites. We will prove that no problem is too great for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.”
Donald Trump has repeatedly employed Islamophobic rhetoric, once calling Sadiq Khan a “terrible Muslim mayor” of London. Yet despite Trump’s mockery and hostility, Khan succeeded in London—and Mamdani has now done the same in New York—demonstrating that hope, paired with pragmatic economic and social vision, can overcome prejudice.
Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Democratic governor of New Mexico, observed that what unites Khan and Mamdani is their optimism. “I think that’s incredibly attractive to voters,” she said. “They want new ideas, innovation, and optimism. They don’t want leaders who are dark, angry, and negative. Mamdani is the opposite—he’s hopeful and forward-looking. I think that’s the future of the Democratic Party: capturing this energy and optimism for the future.”
When news of Mamdani’s victory reached Sadiq Khan in Rio de Janeiro, the London mayor smiled and said: “New Yorkers faced a clear choice—between hope and fear—and, just like in London, hope won.”
Mamdani and Sadiq Khan, though from different generations and political traditions, are united by faith and purpose. Both endured Islamophobic slurs, both were vilified as security risks, and both were mocked by Donald Trump. Yet both prevailed—driven by citizens who believe in diversity, resilience, and the transformative power of hope.
For Pakistan, Mamdani’s ascent carries a vital lesson: the nation’s youth must enter politics with courage, integrity, and vision to challenge—and ultimately dismantle—the stranglehold of dynastic rule.