My name isZohran Kwame Mamdani
I'm a housing counselor, an Indian-Ugandan New Yorker, and the Democratic Nominee for the 36th Assembly District. Our housing is unaffordable and our bills are unpayable. The reason is that big landlords and corporations have too much power, and tenants and workers don't have enough. I want to help our neighbors take their power back.
Vote by November 3rd!
Our Campaign
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Endorsements
Tiffany Cabán
"As a public defender, I worked with clients every day who lost their freedom because of a racist mass incarceration system. As a housing counselor, Zohran works with families who are losing their homes to a system that puts profits over people. I’m supporting him because I know he’ll put people first."
Cynthia Nixon
"We’re facing a crisis of inequality and greed in our country and in our state...To solve it, we need elected officials who have the political courage to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund the life-saving public goods and services that our communities rely on. Zohran has what it takes to meet the challenge."
State Senator Julia Salazar
"In order to build a New York that works for everyone, we need to support candidates who are willing to fight for bold solutions to the problems that millions of families face across our state. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Zohran and why I’m endorsing his campaign for State Assembly."
In The News
Our campaign featured in local and national press. More coverage here.
Did New York Just Get the Nation’s Most Liberal Legislature?
"After she conceded on Wednesday, Mr. Mamdani, a Muslim who was born in Uganda, celebrated his victory on Twitter with a two-word summation of his political base: 'Socialism won,' he wrote. "
Assembly Democrats spend big to save Simotas' seat in Astoria
"With a single donation one week before election day, the Albany establishment provided our opponent with more than half of the total amount our own campaign raised the entire cycle,” Mamdani said. “That's in addition to the tens of thousands of dollars she received from lobbyists, special interests and corporate PACs associated with the Queens Machine and Democratic leadership.”
Insurgent Wave in New York Pushes Old Guard Democrats Aside
"One of the [DSA's] tactics was to engage minority communities that had long been marginalized. Mr. Mamdani’s campaign crafted mailers and policy proposals to target Astoria’s Muslim and South Asian communities. The group’s organizing tactics have also been sharpened with each successive election season, and its fund-raising has become more robust following its earlier successes."
Leftward wave still showing its energy
"At least one thing is clear though – during a campaign season upended by an unprecedented global pandemic, an upstart candidate, with little name recognition and backed by the Queens chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, made the race for the 36th Assembly District one of the closest in the borough."
Beyond Jamaal Bowman, Progressives Targeting New York Incumbents Up and Down the Ballot
"Simotas is backed by companies fighting labor protections for gig workers; New Yorkers for Flexible Work, a front group for companies like Uber and Lyft, is running ads on Spotify in support of her. Uber’s top lobbyist, Patrick Jenkins, donated $1,000 to Simotas last month. She also received money from Savas Konstantinides, a city taxi fleet owner under federal investigation for possible lending fraud in the city taxi industry. Mamdani’s campaign is focusing on rights for drivers in the district."
Will the Pandemic Slow New York’s Progressive Momentum?
"Mr. Mamdani was among the first legislative challengers in New York to use the growing anti-police sentiment as a cudgel against his opponent: A day after his campaign highlighted thousands of dollars that Ms. Simotas had received in contributions from police-affiliated groups, she said she would donate the money to charity."
The Pandemic Upends Islam’s Holiest Month
“You cannot extricate Ramadan from the concept of solidarity and the idea and the practice of community,” Mr. Mamdani said. “People who rely on iftar at the mosques throughout Ramadan are still here in our communities and are in need of that same food so we have to find a way to get it to them.”
DSA Was Only Getting Started
"Asked what drew him to Mamdani’s campaign, Omar Abouhamama, a 16-year-old volunteer from Astoria, described helping the campaign pack groceries and prepare meals to deliver to neighbors in need. 'I like politics,' he said, 'but I like helping people, also.' Of Mamdani, he said admiringly, 'I don’t [usually] see politicians in the street helping people out themselves.'"
After New York Cancels Presidential Primary, Candidates Brace for Lower Turnout
"Mr. Mamdani traveled to Iowa late last year to knock on doors for Mr. Sanders and has been inspired by his message. 'His vision is one that has made possible campaigns such as mine,' Mr. Mamdani said in an interview. 'Additionally, in Astoria, our commitment is the same as his: to expand the electorate of regular primary voters.'"
New York State Assembly District 36
Our Office: 28-14 Steinway Street Astoria, NY 11103.
Note our office is currently closed to the public due to the the COVID-19 crisis.
