By Amelia Burke
How a local politician became known far beyond New York
This November, Zohran Mamdani was officially elected mayor of New York City. Mamdani became the first muslim and South-Asian mayor. This win was described as not just a “victory” but an “echo of hope” and a shift in America’s political landscape.
Not only has Mamdani received an overwhelming amount of support amongst Americans, but he has also become a favourite across the world, a long-awaited change, especially amongst young people.
The days leading up to the election, Mamdani was gaining attention worldwide and with a huge backing on social media, he has even been described as “the internet’s mayor”
How has Mamdani gained this title, and why is he so adored worldwide?
The answer is very simple. Mamdani possesses a variety of traits that most politicians, unfortunately, lack.
Mamdani’s Cultural Background:
He not only knows how to treat young people like their voices matter, because they do, but his background allows a wider range of people to relate to him.
I read an article posted in July that said “Zohran Mamdani’s last name reflects centuries of intercontinental trade, migration and cultural exchange”, and his background offers something valuable.
Mamdani has a compelling and global background. He was born in Uganda and moved to America when he was a child. His family roots span to India, South Africa and the US, which gives him a multicultural identity, something that many can relate to. This kind of global narrative helps him connect with a variety of people, such as immigrants and people of mixed cultures, worldwide.
His Honest Love for Community:
The authenticity in his person and his campaign portrays Mamdani as a regular person rather than a privileged politician. What people want and love is someone who reflects their lived experiences. His campaign used tactics like the use of social media, door knocking and community engagement, and it’s his constant engagement with regular working-class people that makes him so easy to love.
He really connects with the people of New York, and it’s so refreshing to see. He cycles around the city, interacts with small businesses and makes a proper effort to show that he is just the same as any other person. Much of Mamdani’s appeal is that he presents himself as a candidate of the people.
Social Media Presence:
We live in a world where we are constantly overwhelmed with information, headlines, videos, tweets, all fighting for our attention, and political campaigns have to find a way to hold our interest before convincing us.
Mamdani’s social media presence definitely pushed him to popularity. The first video of his campaign for mayor was a TikTok video he took walking around New York talking about the cost of living, and ever since, Mamdani’s team viewed social media platforms as a distribution network as well as a data engine.
His use of social media made it easier to connect with people far beyond his local supporters. Social media gave him a larger audience than traditional media could by enabling people from all around the world to follow his campaign. Regular updates, interesting material, and shareability all contributed to his campaign’s growth and global recognition.
His Treatment of Younger Voters:
In an interview with Mamdani, Robert Reich asked him why he thinks he is so loved amongst the younger generations he replied with “I found that for a long time in our politics, the language in which we speak to young people is one of condescension”, and it’s this that shows how aware he is of past political mistakes and how he is genuinely determined to change them.
He goes on to say that he recognises that if you do treat young people with the respect they deserve, “that they will not only be a part of your movement,” but that they “could be the heart of it”.
It’s easy for any politician to tell the younger generation anything they want to hear to try and win their vote, but to listen and properly communicate with them instead of overlooking their problems and disregarding them shows that Mamdani actually cares, and is something more politicians should learn from him.
I think for a long time now, a large number of people in New York have become hugely cynical about the political foundation. Mamdani’s campaign was successful because he made it clear that he was on their side.
It’s his strong passion, and his obvious love for New York City and its people, whether they were born there or not, rich or poor. His authenticity, charisma and overall campaign are the main reasons Mamdani has become a favourite online, some things that helped him win the election, and some things other politicians should definitely try to learn from him.