Zohran Mamdani’s win: What it means for Democrats, Republicans, and Indians in New York

Mamdani’s victory speech had nods enough towards his Indian heritage — he quoted Jawaharlal Nehru in speech, while the Bollywood number “Dhoom Mach le” played in the backdrop.

What does this widely watched election mean for the Democrats? Will the Indians studying and working in New York be impacted? Here are six key takeaways.

Challenge to Trumpism, not necessarily to Trump

First, the win has been put across as a challenge to US President Donald Trump, a year after he won the US elections.

To put this win in context, all the three highly-publicised races — in New York City, Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic candidates won — are Democratic strongholds. So, it was not a surprise that the Democratic candidates were voted in.

Virginia has a high density of federal government staffers, a sort of a sarkari babu stronghold, like RK Puram or Sarojini Nagar in New Delhi. Here, the impact of the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) laying off workers, and of the ongoing government shutdown, helped the Democrat candidate Abigail Spanberger win the Governor’s race. She has become the first woman to lead the province.

In New Jersey, where Trump had put his weight behind the Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli and held several tele-rallies on his behalf, Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherill won.

All these are encouraging signs for the Democratic Party, but one has to remember that New York City has also been a Democratic stronghold, and Trump has never been popular in the city.

Trump was quick to point out and posted on Truth Social that “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT,” and the federal government shutdown “WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT.”

Beyond ‘great political smile’: Mamdani has a long way to go

Second, Mamdani has gone from a small-time rapper to social media star to a New York city politician. At 34, his political CV looks remarkable.

While he has charmed social media, especially Instagram, with what is called a “great political smile”, and has also run an effective campaign reaching out to the lowest common denominator on the streets of New York, his being anointed the next best thing to happen to the Democratic Party is jumping the gun.

One evidence of that is that stalwarts like the veteran Democratic leader Chuck Schumer did not endorse him officially, nor did former US President Barack Obama.

When he assumes office on January 1, 2026, his performance will frame his political journey. A comparison to Obama, who was a junior Congressman and eventually US President, is premature.

His promise of affordability in the city of dreams resonated, but now that has to translate into action.

Prices of eggs was the big slogan used by Trump during his campaign last year. Mamdani has taken on the issue of the high cost of living in New York City.

From campaigning for free groceries, he has now moderated to “cheaper” groceries. He has promised free buses for the city’s residents, who find the subway system inadequate and the public transportation broken and expensive. In a city of single parents doing two jobs to sustain themselves and their families, he has also promised free child-care — a luxury for many who live in a city that never sleeps.

These freebies are eaiser promised than delivered in New York.

The immigration test

Third, the biggest challenge Mamdani will possibly face will be on the issue of immigration, with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers unleashing an unusually severe crackdown on immigrants.

As the son of immigrant parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran Mamdani will have the onerous task of defending and protecting immigrants from ICE agents, at a time when the crackdown is being enforced by Trump’s top aides, Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, with great zeal. Mamdani standing up to the ICE agents and the border czars, thus, will require both legal and political skills.

For Indians

Fourth, New York as the city of immigrants has always inspired people from all over the world to go there and make their dreams possible. Like in India, a young person from small towns like Asansol or Bhilai might aspire to go to Delhi or Mumbai to pursue their dreams, the New York City is the equivalent for the global youth.

For many Indian parents who want to send their children to America, New York City is top on the list. The same holds true for Indian students who want to study and professionals who want to work there.

This means what the New York City Mayor does has a direct impact on how expensive it is to live there, how safe it is to commute, how good the quality of air they breathe and how free the biggest city in the free world is.

So, from that perspective, his win is hugely consequential for the Indians who live, study and work there.

For the Democrats

Fifth, the performance of Mamdani and the other Democratic candidates who won on Tuesday will be consequential for the political landscape.

By the time the race for the 2028 US Presidential elections takes place, the Democratic Mayor and Governors would have completed a year-and-a-half.

If they succeed, their model will be the ones to be replicated to challenge Trump’s successor. But if they don’t work, this will be something for the voters to watch out for.