Zohran Kwame Mamdani made history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor after a landslide win on November 4, defeating Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams with 50.4% of the vote. But behind the celebration lies growing concern for his safety in a politically tense America. Supporters fear he could become the next “prime target” amid a surge of violence against public figures.
Before his victory, Mamdani faced terrifying death threats. A Texas man, Jeremy Fistel, was indicted for sending him messages like, “I’d love to see an IDF bullet go through your skull” and “I hope you all die painful sudden deaths.” Prosecutors said Fistel demanded Mamdani “return to Uganda” or be shot. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned the threats, saying, “There is no room for hate or bigotry in our political discourse.”
Despite this, Mamdani stayed defiant: “We cannot and will not be intimidated by racism, Islamophobia, and hate.”
In his fiery victory speech, Mamdani called out Donald Trump directly: “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.” He vowed to fight corruption, freeze rents, expand childcare, and make public transit free — declaring, “To get to any of us, you’ll have to get through all of us.”
Born in Uganda and raised in New York, Mamdani’s journey from immigrant activist to mayor signals a new chapter for America’s most diverse city.
