Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist Assembly Member from Queens, has become the latest contender in next year’s race to unseat embattled Mayor Eric Adams, according to city Campaign Finance Board records.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Mamdani filed a committee to run for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary with the CFB on Monday, according to the board’s records. Mamdani confirmed his Wednesday campaign launch in an interview with amNewYork Metro on Tuesday.
The move came after City & State New York first reported that Mamdani was strongly considering a mayoral bid in July.
Mamdani said part of his reason for running is to renew public trust in government after Adams’ indictment on federal corruption charges last month.
“There is tremendous anger and alienation in New York City right now,” Mamdani said. “Restoring civic trust means speaking clearly about these issues and offering New Yorkers a vision they can believe in.”
But the Assembly member added his main motivation for launching his mayoral bid is to address the affordability crisis currently gripping the Big Apple.
“City hall is engulfed in corruption, but it is the outrageous cost of living that most New Yorkers are talking about,” he said. “New Yorkers are being crushed by rent and childcare, and Eric Adams has no answers to this crisis. In fact, he’s making it worse.”
Mamdani is building his campaign around three bold policy proposals: a rent freeze, making public bus service free and enacting universal subsidized child care.
If elected, Mamdani pledged to appoint a Rent Guidelines Board who do not raise the rent for stabilized units every year that he is in office. He will also put forward a plan to ensure New Yorkers no longer have to pay to take MTA buses — an issue he has worked on at the state level.
“I’m going to make buses fast and free,” he said. “To some, $2.90 might not feel like a lot, but more than a fifth of New Yorkers struggle to afford the fare. I’ll eliminate the fare and prioritize street infrastructure.”
The Democratic Socialist enters the race already having secured the endorsement of DSA’s local chapter, a development first reported by the New York Post.
Mamdani stunned the Queens political world in 2020 when he ousted longtime Assembly Member Aravella Simotas for her seat, representing much of Astoria and Long Island City. He is one of several Democratic socialist lawmakers representing areas of western Queens, including US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Council Member Tiffany Caban, and state Senator Kristen Gonzalez.
As a state lawmaker, Mamdani has been a vocal advocate on public transit issues such as expanding free bus service and opening a pedestrian path on the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge. He is also one of only three Muslim lawmakers in the state legislature and has been a fierce critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas in Gaza over the past year, which has killed over 40,000 Palestinians.
As a state official, Mamdani will essentially have to begin fundraising from scratch for a citywide election, as it is reportedly very difficult to use funds collected in a state account for a city race. However, he insisted that he will be able to hit the ground running when it comes to fundraising.
“I’m not concerned,” he said. “What I’ve shown is the ability to raise a significant amount of money from an incredible number of New Yorkers.”
Mamdani is the fifth Democrat to file a run against Adams, who is perceived as politically vulnerable after his indictment on federal corruption charges last month. Several federal probes surrounding City Hall and record-low poll numbers also weighed down the mayor.
Other Democrats running against Adams include city Comptroller Brad Lander, his predecessor Scott Stringer, and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) and Jessica Ramos (D-Queens).
