State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani enters race for NYC mayor

By Patrick Adcroft New York City

PUBLISHED 8:45 AM ET Oct. 23, 2024 PUBLISHED 8:45 AM EDT Oct. 23, 2024

Queens Democratic state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday morning formally announced he's throwing his hat in the ring for mayor of New York City.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old who was first elected to the Assembly in 2020, has been a vocal critic of Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted last month on federal corruption charges and has endured waves of resignations within his administration.

In his first mayoral campaign video, posted to X Wednesday, Zohran took aim at Adams for being “engulfed in corruption,” while also hammering home the city’s affordability challenges.

Every politician says New York is the greatest city in the world. But what good is that if no one can afford to live here?

I'm running for Mayor to lower the cost of living for working class New Yorkers.

Join the fight. https://t.co/ooNzX0rccz pic.twitter.com/xqKTHNNWRO
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) October 23, 2024

Mamdani’s district currently includes parts of Astoria and Long Island City. He is one of seven state lawmakers from the city who are aligned with the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In July, NY1 reported Mamdani was potentially considering a run for mayor.

He is the fifth person to announce a challenge to Adams. The others include City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and political veteran Scott Stringer.