From mosques to street corners, New York’s Muslims are rallying for a final big push to secure candidate Zohran Mamdani as mayor. The young socialist reformer has become the face of Muslim defiance against an epidemic of Islamophobic hostility within the American political establishment.
With just a few days to go until the results on November 4, Mamdani is keen not to become complacent despite boasting a double-digit lead over his closest rival.
Mamdani has visited mosques across New York, galvanising religious support, and on Saturday addressed a large crowd of Muslim and South Asian supporters in Queens who had mobilised to volunteer and canvass the area.
Speaking to 5Pillars, Abdullah Aqul, the advocacy director for the Muslim American Society Youth Centre in Brooklyn, explained why Muslims feel they have to back Mamdani to combat rabid Islamophobia.
“The reality is we are seeing Islamophobia possibly like never before here in New York City. The level of hatred being spewed against Muslims, just to make sure that Mamdani doesn’t win, is shocking. And it’s not just from ordinary everyday people, it’s from politicians, people elected to office. So we are looking to our own community to rally and rise up at this moment.”
A young Muslim supporter who was out canvassing for Mamdani told 5Pillars why he and so many other youngsters are rallying to the campaign.
“Zohran speaks to the belief that every single person should live a life of dignity, and that means being free from both economic oppression and the oppression of racism and Islamophobia. Zohran is the only candidate to speak for Palestinian human rights, and he’s the only candidate campaigning to make the city more affordable. His core ideology is dignity for all.”
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The power of the Muslim vote
Mamdani’s rise to fame, and possibly City Hall, has come at a time of great tension between supporters of Israel and Palestine in America amid the genocide in Gaza.
Muslims across America initially voted against the Democrats, who were considered the “party of genocide” for assisting Israel during the war, helping to bring Republican Donald Trump into office.
But under Trump, a culture war between American nationalists, Christian Zionists and the MAGA movement versus Muslims, socialists and other immigrant communities has intensified. Mamdani’s focus on left-wing policies, criticism of Israel, and anti-racism activism has made him highly appealing.
Speaking to 5Pillars, local community leader Juhaib Choudhury, the Co-Founder Muslim Community Forum, explained how local Muslims have felt betrayed by previous mayors, leading many to endorse newcomer Mamdani.
“Over and over again in this city, we have been backstabbed by mayors who said they would represent us but kept us marginalised, who kept us off the table. They wouldn’t give us things. We had to constantly fight to keep what we already have, what we have earned and deserve to have. Because they didn’t keep their word, we have been looking for someone else, and we have found him in Zohran Mamdani.
“The Muslim vote is about 350,000. In the last election, only about 7% voted, but in the primary around 30% did. So imagine if more voted, we would be coasting. They would be at our feet, looking at what they can do for us. That is the power of the Muslim vote.”
The race for New York City mayor has tightened dramatically in the past week, with former governor Andrew Cuomo cutting Zohran Mamdani’s lead to just 10 points, according to a new Suffolk University poll released on October 27.
However, Mamdani’s lead remains convincing. Even his highest-profile critics, including U.S. President Trump, have reportedly told allies in private that they believe Mamdani is unbeatable.
UnIslamic policies and ideologies
Mamdani isn’t totally free of controversy within his core Muslim base. A Shia Muslim born in Uganda, his embrace of socialism, liberal ideas on feminism, and staunch support for LGBT and transgender ideology have raised eyebrows.
Islam totally prohibits same-gender relationships and teaches Muslims to be socially conservative and to dress modestly.
Rola Makki, a Republican Muslim member and activist in Michigan, explained to 5Pillars why she feels Mamdani is compromising on Islam in favour of a left-wing ideology.
“I respect anyone who wants to serve, but Mamdani’s platform is built on socialism, and that doesn’t work for working families.
He openly identifies as a socialist and supports policies like rent cancellation, massive government housing programmes, defunding the police, and tax hikes on small businesses. That might sound good in theory, but in real life it hurts working families, business owners, and immigrants trying to make it.
“A lot of his policies go against Islamic values and aren’t driven by his faith at all. Supporting things like the decriminalisation of prostitution, drug use, or weakening public safety doesn’t reflect our religion’s teachings, it reflects a political ideology that’s far removed from our faith.
“Islam promotes modesty and protecting families and our communities. It does not promote things that are haram or harmful.”
Theological concerns aside, Mamdani’s Muslim base seems willing to look past his liberal leanings.
For many Muslim New Yorkers, the bigger villain isn’t his “woke” policies – it’s Washington – accused of criminalising Palestine solidarity and waging an all-out Islamophobic culture war.
In short, Mamdani might not be a true representation of Islam, but for frustrated Muslim New Yorkers, he’s the best bet in a city and a country that feels increasingly hostile.
