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Will Mamdani be Trump's successor?
Zohran Mamdani calls himself "Donald Trump's worst nightmare." That's because the 34-year-old is the headliner in Tuesday's election.
Born in Uganda to Indian parents (he moved to the US at the age of seven), Mamdani will become the first Muslim mayor of New York if he wins.
He is a democratic socialist whose supporters will see victory as laying down a blueprint for confronting Trump even if the party's old guard is skeptical.
An effective campaign has focused on the costs and quality of life in New York, promising universal childcare, rent freezes, free bus travel, and city-run grocery stores.
Why then has it sparked debate?
The message has resonated with New Yorkers who are struggling to afford the prices, but its payment plan is controversial.
Mamdani plans to raise $9 billion by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, but he will face difficulty getting the necessary approval from the New York State legislature and governor. Mamdani's policies are aligned with the "progressive" left wing of his party, and the success of his campaign plays into Democrats' dilemma over a long-term comeback strategy.
Policies that succeed in New York don't necessarily resonate across the country, and a party establishment has been reluctant to embrace Mamdani. Democrat Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, has refused to support him.
Party management aside, he would not have been impressed when Mamdani was arrested outside Schumer's Brooklyn home as part of a 2023 protest calling for a ceasefire following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
Mamdani has been a staunch critic of Israel and, in the past, has supported cutting funding for the police, decriminalizing prostitution, and closing New York City prisons.
His Islamic background and faith are closely linked to the attacks. He has been criticized for refusing to denounce the phrase "globalize the intifada," used by pro-Palestinian activists.
That hasn't stopped his Republican rival, Curtis Sliwa, from claiming that Mamdani supported "global jihad."
Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, has called him "the most divisive candidate I've ever experienced in New York."
But the reason Mamdani is being attacked is that he is seen as the person who could rival the Republicans in the upcoming presidential election. Will he be Trump's successor? Let's wait and see. /Adapted from "Sky News"
Do ja shohin hajrin kur ta mbushi Ameriken më Indiane e Pakistane.