Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win in New York City has sparked both celebration and outrage. The 34-year-old, who secured 50.4% of the vote to defeat Andrew Cuomo and become the city’s first Muslim mayor, has faced a wave of online criticism and racial abuse.
Much of the backlash has focused on his religion, with some users posting Islamophobic comments linking his election to the 9/11 attacks. One viral post showed an image of the Twin Towers, asking, “How does the city that experienced the biggest Islamic terrorist attack vote for a Muslim mayor?”
Author Stephen King called out the hate, reposting the message with the blunt reply: “Um, he didn’t do it. He was 10 at the time.” His response drew widespread support, with commenters condemning the racism and urging people to judge Mamdani on his record, not his faith.
In his victory speech, Mamdani said, “I am Muslim. I am a Democratic Socialist, and I refuse to apologize for any of this,” adding that his win showed Democrats could “dare to be great” again by rejecting fear and mediocrity.