Why a Muslim woman from New York supports Zohran Mamdani

From the outset, I knew I preferred Zohran Mamdani over every other candidate.

As a Muslim woman from a racial minority, I longed to see someone who reflected my identity and experiences in the race for New York City mayor. I found in his policies an honest expression of my values and hopes.

By contrast, his opponent Andrew Cuomo seemed far more interested in power and money than people. He didn’t prioritize working-class communities or ethnic minorities—the very people who make this city what it is.

Most tellingly, Cuomo hasn't lived in NYC for years. How can he lead us or even understand our daily struggles?

I live in Washington Heights, a neighborhood with a strong Latin American character, home mostly to working-class families. Some call it the Little Dominican Republic because of its large Dominican population.

When the last election campaign rolled around, Cuomo was a distant figure. He visited us just once, a fleeting presence perched on the back of a truck, never setting foot on our pavement, never exchanging a word with anyone; he simply passed through, a blur in the periphery of our community.

Mamdani, on the other hand, became a familiar presence in our neighborhood.

He didn’t just walk our streets and parks; he moved among us, his voice joining the conversations as he paused to listen to residents’ concerns. His campaign team wasn’t a brief appearance either; they visited our homes not once, but four separate times, approaching each conversation with a patient attentiveness that conveyed true regard for the community they wished to represent.

Think about it—who showed real concern for the community? Who treated residents as individuals, not just as votes? And who, ultimately, truly deserves their support?

All my friends voted for Zohran too—Asians, Latinos, Black and white people, Jews and Christians alike. We were united by a shared conviction that this election hinged not on religion, ethnicity, or foreign conflicts, but on the future of our city.

While some media outlets try to drag the conversation into sectarian or racist territory, turning it into a debate over Palestine or Zohran’s heritage, the truth is both simpler and deeper—it resides in our daily struggles.

Month after month, year after year, the cost of living relentlessly climbs, leaving many New Yorkers, even those born and raised here, unable to afford basic necessities or rent.

NYC, a global melting pot, boasts a population where roughly 36% are foreign-born, as per the US Census Bureau. Despite this, a shadow of federal policy hangs over them, threatening deportation for immigrants who arrived legally, sought asylum, or have spent years calling this city home. Now a US citizen,

I find that worry lingers, not just for myself, but for every friend living here on a visa.

The core concern lies here, far from the diversions of age or religion. It’s exacerbated by Mayor Eric Adams, who appears more interested in cozying up to Trump. Should he win a second term, I don’t know if I’d feel safe inviting my family to visit me.

We are living through harsh times. As the political landscape shifts sharply to the right, rhetoric has grown increasingly divisive. This climate has seen Zohran targeted by online attacks, branded a “terrorist” for being Muslim, and a “dangerous communist” for advocating pro-poor economic policies.

This is racism, plain and simple. As a Muslim, non-white immigrant myself, I constantly worry for my safety and that of my community. While I know most people here don’t harbor such hate, a small, loud faction still exerts considerable sway in politics and media, orchestrating these smear campaigns.

Just days ago, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from NY no less, appeared on TV accusing Zohran of inciting violence against Jews and calling for “violent jihad.”

Such an accusation is unequivocally false and deeply racist.

It’s made all the more disappointing coming from someone in a party that claims to be progressive, even left-leaning. Gillibrand represents NY, supposedly one of the most progressive states. If this is how Democrats talk, what should we expect from Republicans in conservative areas?

Yet, Zohran’s obstacles aren’t solely rooted in prejudice. While he resonated strongly with liberal, white, middle-class voters, he hit a wall in some low-income neighborhoods, where his progressive platform was perceived as too risky.

Cuomo, conversely, doesn't need to win over hearts with policy; his advantage is simple name recognition, a comforting familiarity that appeals powerfully to older voters.

Despite Zohran’s promises of a more affordable New York, many fear his proposals would mean higher taxes. In uncertain times, security is paramount, and progressives are easily branded as extremists.

This concern extends even to those who agree with Mamdani’s policies, particularly among immigrants from formerly communist countries who instinctively recoil from “socialism,” associating it with atheism, authoritarianism, and poverty.

We were raised to believe America was the “land of the free,” a place where hard work promised prosperity. Yet, immigrant critique is often met with demands for gratitude or the command to “go back where we came from.”

Mamdani’s fight for a fairer New York lays bare the uncomfortable reality that the cracks in that dream are now undeniable.

My pride as a New Yorker and in Zohran Mamdani runs deep. Yet, a profound worry about this country's trajectory gnaws at me. While I cast my hope on New York choosing wisely in the upcoming election, I know the fight extends far beyond the ballot box. Supporting Zohran—a socialist candidate who truly represents us—is already a powerful act of defiance.

Still, as long as a racist Republican party that openly scoffs at both the law and its own people holds the White House, the threat persists.

And so, my worry endures.