Zohran Kwame Mamdani (born October 18, 1991) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district, based in Queens, since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, he is the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in the 2025 election.

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, into an Indian family, to academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. His mother is Hindu by faith, while his father is Muslim. Mamdanis family immigrated to South Africa when he was five years old and to the United States when he was seven, settling in New York City. Mamdani graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and from Bowdoin College with a Bachelors degree in Black studies.

Mamdani worked as a housing counselor and hip-hop musician. He began his political career as a campaign manager for Khader El-Yateem and Ross Barkan. Mamdani was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, defeating four-term incumbent Aravella Simotas in a Democratic primary. He was reelected without opposition in 2022 and 2024.