On the cold, wet streets of Queens in November last year, a little-known New York assemblyman called Zohran Mamdani stood on the pavement with a handful of leaflets in his hand. He tried to spark up conversations with passers by about his intentions to run for Mayor of New York City. Some politely stopped to chat but many more believed that, like every other election for the mayoralty for decades, this would be a vote for the lesser of two evils and that the Democratic and Republican parties would stand establishment favourites as candidates.

Many New Yorkers believed that, fundamentally, nothing would change. Their public services would continue to crumble, their rent would continue to be extortionate and the super rich would continue to profit from the exploitation of workers, families and communities in the city.

It was from watching the daily disenfranchisement of those around him that Zohran altered the course of his campaign, and resisted the ugly shouting matches between establishment figures. He spoke directly to New Yorkers and built a campaign solely based on their wants and needs.

The result of these conversations were clear. The cost of living in New York is too high, childcare is unaffordable and the cost of public transport is unsustainable. This was the birth of a set of extremely popular policy announcements on rent caps and freezes, free childcare for working families and free buses across the city to support getting to and from work. It was through these pledges that Zohran's stratospheric rise to Democratic candidate was confirmed.

Zohran's proposed "radical" transfer of power from the super rich elite into the hands of the people set off alarm bells. May of New York's establishment Democrats refused to endorse their democratically-elected candidate, others supported the defeat candidate, former governor Andrew Cuomo, despite the Department of Justice findings he subjected 13 women to sexual harassment and a hostile working environment during his time in office. The likes of President Donald Trump and oligarch Twitter/X owner Elon Musk, the richest man to have ever lived, also filed in behind Cuomo.

It was clear that the establishment was quaking. Numerous oligarch-owned newspapers published several-times-daily articles about the supposed exodus of wealthy New Yorkers that would follow the election of the "communist" Mamdani. Others, including elected members of US Congress, resorted to disgusting Islamophobic smears and calls to deport Mamdani despite his neutralised US citizen status.

But the people of New York rejected the politics of fear, hate and division. Mamdani won 50.4% of the votes cast, a clear victory over Cuomo and a staggering mandate for real change.

Zohran Mamdani's victory inspired millions in New York and around the world. He has proven that grassroots campaigns in our communities can take on the billionaire elite and win. He has also laid waste to the myth that we must cede ground on issues such as the genocide in Gaza, wealth taxation, renters' rights and standing up for trans people in order to win power.

Mayor-elect Mamdani will assume the office on 1 January 2026. He will undoubtedly face strong opposition from the elites to every aspect of his programme but we believe in his courage of conviction to carry out the job well and stand up for the working class people of New York City. Peace & Justice Project sends its warmest congratulations to Zohran and his campaign team for their stunning victory.