Zohran Mamdani Explains His Rise

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s come-from-behind victory in this summer’s Democratic primary for New York City mayor is already the stuff of political legend. But in many ways, the most intriguing phase of his campaign has been the period since then, as he has labored, painstakingly, to win over his skeptics. How, exactly, would a 33-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America, with little management experience and a record of polarizing pronouncements, win over enough voters to prevail in the general election?


So far, the polls suggest he’s doing just that.


And so, a few days ago, “The Daily” sat down Mr. Mamdani for an extended conversation about his campaign, the forces and ideas that have animated it and his plans, if elected on Nov. 4, to deliver on his campaign promises and contend with a Republican president who has promised to treat him as an enemy from his first day in office.


Guest: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City.


Background reading: 

• Inside the improbable, audacious and (so far) unstoppable rise of Zohran Mamdani (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/ma...) .

Photo: Vincent Alban/The New York Times


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