Zohran Mamdani Bio: Age, Polls, Net Worth, Wife, Religion, Children, Height, Parents, Ethnicity

Biography

Zohran Kwame Mamdani (born October 18, 1991) is a renowned American politician and democratic socialist.

He has been serving as a New York State Assembly member for the 36th District in Queens since 2021. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, he moved to New York City at age seven.

A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science and Bowdoin College (B.A., Africana Studies), Mamdani worked as a foreclosure prevention counsellor before entering politics, which inspired his focus on housing affordability.

He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in 2025, advocating for fare-free buses, rent freezes, and progressive tax policies. Mamdani, the first South Asian man and Ugandan in the NYS Assembly is also a hip-hop artist and community organizer.

New York State Representative
Zohran Mamdani
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Stage Name:	Zohran Mamdani, Mr. Cardamom
Born:	18 October 1991 (age 33 years old)
Place of Birth:	Kampala, Uganda
Nationality:	American
Education:	Bronx High School of Science, Bowdoin College
Height:	1.62 m
Parents:	Mahmood Mamdani, Mira Nair
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Rama Duwaji (m. 2025)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Politician • Democratic Socialist
Net Worth:	$200,000 (USD)

Early Life & Education

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda. He is of Indian descent, with his family hailing from South Asia, specifically from an Indian Muslim background.

His father, filmmaker Mira Nair, and mother, academic Mahmood Mamdani, are both prominent figures in their respective fields. Zohran has no publicly documented siblings, but his grandparents are Amrit Nair and Praveen Nair.

At the age of seven, Mamdani moved with his family to New York City, where he grew up in Manhattan. His upbringing in a culturally rich and intellectually vibrant household, shaped by his parents’ global perspectives, influenced his later activism and political career.

His Indian Muslim heritage is a noted aspect of his identity. Mamdani attended the Bronx High School of Science, one of New York City’s prestigious public schools, where he developed an early interest in social issues.

He later pursued higher education at Bowdoin College in Maine, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies. His academic focus reflected his commitment to understanding systemic inequalities, which would later inform his political platform centred on housing justice, economic equity, and progressive policies.

Career

Zohran Kwame Mamdani began his professional journey as a foreclosure prevention counsellor at Chhaya CDC, a nonprofit organization based in Queens dedicated to advancing housing and economic justice for South Asian and immigrant communities.

In this role, Mamdani worked closely with families facing eviction and housing insecurity, an experience that deeply shaped his commitment to tenant rights and housing affordability—issues that remain central to his political platform.

In 2020, Mamdani launched his campaign for the New York State Assembly representing the 36th District, which includes Astoria and Long Island City in Queens. Running as a democratic socialist, he prioritized progressive policies, including universal rent control, fare-free public transit, and tax reforms targeting the ultra-wealthy. He defeated incumbent Aravella Simotas in the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, officially taking office in January 2021.

Since entering the Assembly, Mamdani has been a vocal advocate for tenant protections, climate justice, and public transit accessibility, including his leadership in pushing for fare-free bus service. His legislative agenda reflects his deep-rooted activism and extensive organizing experience, particularly in the areas of housing and economic equity.

Mamdani made history as the first South Asian man and the first Ugandan elected to the New York State Assembly, highlighting his unique background and the growing diversity of political leadership in New York.

In addition to his political career, Mamdani is also known as a hip-hop artist, performing under the stage name Mr. Cardamom. Through music, he channels his activism and engages with communities in creative and culturally resonant ways, blending art and advocacy to create meaningful impact.

In 2025, Mamdani emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City, running on a platform centred on universal housing, economic justice, public safety reform, and inclusive governance.

His campaign is rooted in grassroots organizing and reflects the values of a progressive movement that has steadily gained momentum across the city. Drawing from his lived experiences and deep ties to Queens, Mamdani continues to position himself as a bold, visionary leader committed to structural change and equity for all New Yorkers.

Social Media

• Twitter: Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) · X
• Facebook: Zohran Mamdani
• Wikipedia: Zohran Mamdani
• Instagram: Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani)

Personal Life

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, making him 33 years old.

He is married to Rama Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian-American artist, animator, and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. Duwaji, born in Texas to a Syrian family, holds a BFA in Communication Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts.

Her artwork, exploring themes of identity, migration, and social justice, has appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, BBC, VICE, and Tate Modern. Mamdani and Duwaji celebrated their engagement with a Muslim nikkah ceremony in Dubai in December 2024, where Duwaji’s family resides, and formalized their marriage in a civil ceremony at the New York City Clerk’s Office on February 12, 2025.

The couple kept their relationship private during much of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign but faced online criticism from right-wing groups, prompting Mamdani to share their wedding photos in May 2025. Some sources incorrectly suggest a separate Dubai wedding, but it was actually an engagement or nikah ceremony, not a formal marriage.

There is no confirmed information indicating that Mamdani and Duwaji have children. His height is 1.62 m. Mamdani met Duwaji on the dating app Hinge, though the exact date of their meeting is not specified.

Their relationship was publicly acknowledged when Mamdani posted a photo credited to Duwaji in April 2022, and their engagement was announced in October 2024 with an Instagram post captioned “Light of my life.” and the hashtag “#hardlaunch.”

A post on social media incorrectly claimed that Mamdani is married to Priyanka Naik, a chef and author, but this claim is unverified and contradicts multiple sources that confirm his marriage to Duwaji.

Net Worth

Zohran Mamdani’s net worth is estimated to be around $200,000, reflecting his modest financial profile as a public servant.

His primary income sources include his salary as a New York State Assemblymember, approximately $142,000 annually, and minor royalties of about $1,267 per year from his past hip-hop music career under the name Mr. Cardamom.

Mamdani owns four acres of land in Jinja, Uganda, valued between $150,000 and $250,000, which constitutes his primary asset. Living in a rented apartment in New York City and owning no car, his financial disclosures suggest a focus on public service over personal wealth accumulation.