BY: DM
Published 2 days ago
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Queens assemblymember and self-described Democratic Socialist, has surged to prominence by shaking up New York City politics. In June, he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, taking about 56% of the vote, according to Politico.
Mamdani has made LGBTQIA+ rights a core part of his campaign, positioning New York’s values in direct contrast to the Trump administration’s record. He openly expresses his support for the LGBTQIA+ community. He was the only mayoral candidate to speak at a GLITS trans activist town hall in Manhattan and attended a Trans Day of Visibility rally for queer youth. Mamdani has pledged to challenge the administration, especially on issues impacting LGBTQIA+ rights.
Zohran Mamdani has vowed to combat Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTQIA+ policies.
In a campaign video filmed at Manhattan’s historic Christopher Street Pier — a site tied to Stonewall and trans activist Sylvia Rivera’s legacy — he described the city as “a place of immense contradictions” and pledged to protect queer New Yorkers from national anti-LGBTQIA+ leaders. “New York will not sit idly by while trans people are attacked,” he said in the ad. Mamdani specifically condemns President Trump’s “scorched-earth campaign against trans people” and promises a strong legal defense for LGBTQIA+ residents.
“We will deploy hundreds of lawyers to combat Trump’s hate, make New York City an LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city, and create the office of LGBTQIA+ affairs to allocate millions for youth and adult housing programs as well as gender-affirming care,” Mamdani said.
On the campaign trail, Mamdani has repeated these promises. During a National Coming Out Day rally on Oct. 11 in Greenwich Village, he told supporters, “We have to stand up for queer New Yorkers every single day,” according to NY1. He also condemned any tolerance for anti-LGBTQIA+ figures abroad.
Zohran Mamdani has a strong chance of claiming victory.
With the general election approaching, Mamdani stands as the clear frontrunner. Early polls in this three-way race show him with a comfortable lead. A September 2025 Emerson/PIX11 survey placed him at 43% in a four-way mayoral ballot, compared with 28% for Andrew Cuomo and 10% for Republican Curtis Sliwa. After Mayor Adams dropped out, a Quinnipiac University poll in early October put Mamdani at 46%, well ahead of Cuomo’s 33% and Sliwa’s 15%. The same surveys show Mamdani performing best on key issues: 48% of voters said he would handle housing costs most effectively, compared with 25% for Cuomo.
Mamdani’s campaign has drawn major attention and high-profile endorsements. Progressive leaders across the country — Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Vice President Kamala Harris — have all voiced their support. Harris told MSNBC, “He’s the Democratic nominee and he should be supported in the general election.”
Local Democrats have also followed suit. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul publicly endorsed Mamdani, praising his affordability agenda and resilient spirit. “The next mayor will not be someone who would surrender one inch to President Trump,” Hochul wrote in an opinion piece for The New York Times.
Do you think Zohran Mamdani has what it takes to become New York City’s next mayor? Comment below!
