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“It All Paid Off!”: South Asian coalition that first endorsed Zohran Mamdani celebrates his historic win
On Nov. 4, Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming New York City’s first Indian American Muslim mayor.
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Navya Asopa - Wed, 05, Nov 2025
- 20:55 EST
- 24
Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) Beats was among the first working-class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean grassroots organizations to endorse Mamdani / Navya Asopa
“The win was something we were expecting, but like it was so fast! That is satisfying to witness,” said Pooja, sporting a ‘Zohran for Mayor’ beanie, at the election watch party hosted by DRUM Beats in Queens on Tuesday night.
The bar in Queens was packed with Mamdani’s canvassers, volunteers, and voters, their necks craned and eyes glued to the TV screen, waiting in a mix of hope and anticipation for the monumental result.
Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) Beats was among the first working-class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean grassroots organizations to endorse Mamdani when he launched his mayoral campaign.
So, election night was particularly personal and emotional for the attendees.
“If he had lost by fifteen votes or something, I would’ve regretted it my whole life,” said AJ, a cancer researcher and a proud New Yorker. “So, I made sure I canvassed for as many hours every day as possible.”
On Nov. 4, Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor born in Africa with South Asian descent, and its youngest mayor since 1892.
The Associated Press called the race merely thirty minutes after polls closed at 9 PM, with a record-breaking turnout of more than two million voters, almost double compared to the city’s previous mayoral election.
Mamdani secured 50.4 percent of the vote, totaling 1,033,471 ballots, while former governor Andrew Cuomo trailed with 41.6 percent, or 852,032 votes.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” declared Mamdani in his victory speech, to loud cheers and applause across the city.
He also quoted India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous “Tryst With Destiny: independence speech, before closing alongside his family on stage, with “Dhoom Macahle” playing in the background.
Few could believe they were hearing a Bollywood song at the victory stage of the Big Apple’s newly elected mayor. The crowd broke into jubilant dance, chanting “Zohran! Zohran!” and “When we fight, we win!” as a friend played the dhol.
Dedunu, a teacher and South Asian canvasser for Mamdani in Staten Island, stood still, smiling, and inhaled the moment. “I feel hopeful,” she said, “This election was about taking a chance. Finally, it all paid off!”
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