Zohran Mamdani’s rise in the New York mayoral race sparks anti-Muslim vitriol

WASHINGTON (AP) — Zohran Mamdani ’s swift rise in New York City’s mayoral race has made him into a national symbol — both as a point of pride among many Muslim Americans and a political foil for the right. New York City police ran a now-disbanded Muslim surveillance program. Born in Uganda to parents of Indian descent, he has lived in New York City since he was 7 and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. “The abiding emotion … is a really deep sense of hope,” said Chouhoud, whose Brooklyn accent speaks to his New York roots. Shahana Hanif, a Mamdani ally and the first Muslim woman elected to the New York City Council, is optimistic.