New York's South Asian Voters Are Making Their Mark, and Zohran Mamdani is Leading the Charge
In a city where demographics shape the political landscape, one ethnic group is flexing its power: South Asians. Comprising just 5% of New York City's population, this rapidly growing demographic has made itself heard in June's Democratic primary, with turnout increasing by a whopping 40%. The key to Mamdani's spectacular rise? Direct appeals to Desi New Yorkers.
The former Gov. Andrew Cuomo may have dominated the Asian vote, but Zohran Mamdani is closing the gap. According to Emerson College polls, the Democratic Socialist has steadily gained ground, with the Asian vote split evenly between him and Cuomo by May. It's clear that Mamdani's culturally sensitive outreach has struck a chord.
Mamdani's strategy involves building relationships with South Asian Muslim communities, particularly Bangladeshis, Indians, and Pakistanis. The former state Assembly candidate credits his initial victory to this low-propensity voter base, who delivered a crucial boost in 2020. His message resonates with issues like the economic plight of taxi drivers – all conveyed through various languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Tibetan, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Bangla.
Social media campaigns have played a significant role in his outreach efforts. A recent ad featuring halal cart vendors tackling small business permits racked up 20 million views, while another showcasing ranked-choice voting in Hindi and Bollywood-inspired visuals drew millions more. The final days of the primary campaign saw Mamdani visiting key organizations like mosques and cultural centers, further solidifying his connection with South Asian voters.
Mamdani's performance offers valuable lessons for both Republicans and Democrats: take South Asian voters seriously, as their votes may soon become decisive; and don't treat them as a monolith. Each subgroup has unique cultural, religious, and linguistic differences that must be addressed in tailored messages.
In the mayoral race, Mamdani engaged heavily with Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, and Indian Sikhs, but less so with Indian Hindus, who strongly oppose him due to his criticism of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This nuanced approach underscores the importance of understanding intra-racial distinctions within South Asian communities.
As New York City's Bangladeshi population continues to triple in size, it's clear that South Asian voters are making their mark on the city's politics. With a growing and increasingly influential demographic, candidates must adapt to win over this rapidly growing segment of the electorate.
In a city where demographics shape the political landscape, one ethnic group is flexing its power: South Asians. Comprising just 5% of New York City's population, this rapidly growing demographic has made itself heard in June's Democratic primary, with turnout increasing by a whopping 40%. The key to Mamdani's spectacular rise? Direct appeals to Desi New Yorkers.
The former Gov. Andrew Cuomo may have dominated the Asian vote, but Zohran Mamdani is closing the gap. According to Emerson College polls, the Democratic Socialist has steadily gained ground, with the Asian vote split evenly between him and Cuomo by May. It's clear that Mamdani's culturally sensitive outreach has struck a chord.
Mamdani's strategy involves building relationships with South Asian Muslim communities, particularly Bangladeshis, Indians, and Pakistanis. The former state Assembly candidate credits his initial victory to this low-propensity voter base, who delivered a crucial boost in 2020. His message resonates with issues like the economic plight of taxi drivers – all conveyed through various languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Tibetan, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Bangla.
Social media campaigns have played a significant role in his outreach efforts. A recent ad featuring halal cart vendors tackling small business permits racked up 20 million views, while another showcasing ranked-choice voting in Hindi and Bollywood-inspired visuals drew millions more. The final days of the primary campaign saw Mamdani visiting key organizations like mosques and cultural centers, further solidifying his connection with South Asian voters.
Mamdani's performance offers valuable lessons for both Republicans and Democrats: take South Asian voters seriously, as their votes may soon become decisive; and don't treat them as a monolith. Each subgroup has unique cultural, religious, and linguistic differences that must be addressed in tailored messages.
In the mayoral race, Mamdani engaged heavily with Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, and Indian Sikhs, but less so with Indian Hindus, who strongly oppose him due to his criticism of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This nuanced approach underscores the importance of understanding intra-racial distinctions within South Asian communities.
As New York City's Bangladeshi population continues to triple in size, it's clear that South Asian voters are making their mark on the city's politics. With a growing and increasingly influential demographic, candidates must adapt to win over this rapidly growing segment of the electorate.
and I'm like totally fascinated by how slow they are... like, who needs that pace, right? 
anyway, speaking of slowing things down, have you tried those new Matcha lattes at Starbucks? They're so soothing, I could drink them all day 
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. He's doing some real soul-searching with Desi New Yorkers, and it's paying off big time. I love how he's using social media to get his message out there - that halal cart ad went V Viral 
. And let's be real, having cultural sensitivity is key when you're tryin' to win over a group of people who speak like 10 different languages 
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! His strategy is all about building those relationships and tailoring his message, which is exactly what's needed if he wants to take on the mayoral race. By acknowledging the differences within the South Asian community (Indian Hindus vs Bangladeshis, etc) he's showing that he's willing to listen and adapt - that's leadership right there!
but for real tho, Zohran Mamdani is straight fire 
and we need more candidates like him who understand the nuances of South Asian communities 
it's not just about throwin' a few Urdu phrases on social media, you gotta really listen to what they're saying 
and tailor your message accordingly. And btw, Cuomo's Asian vote isn't even that impressive considering the numbers are basically split 
still love the halal cart ad tho, who wouldn't wanna see vendors fightin' for their biz 
So I think its pretty cool how Zohran Mamdani is using his platform to connect with South Asian voters in NYC. He's not just talking to them as one big group, he's acknowledging the differences within that community and trying to speak their language. That approach can't be a bad thing! 
Social media campaigns are also super smart, I mean who doesn't love a good Bollywood-inspired video? 
Its gonna be fascinating to see how this plays out in the mayoral race and beyond. 
! He's really getting the hang of that South Asian vote, you know? The way he's reaching out to each community individually, speaking their language, and showing he cares about their struggles... it's all so on point 
As a New Yorker, it's awesome to see someone finally giving South Asian voters the respect they deserve. We're not just a demographic, we're a community with unique experiences and perspectives 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out in the mayoral election! 
And his ads are straight fire - 20 million views on a single ad is insane! 
I'm also loving how he's engaging with different South Asian communities, from Bangladeshis to Indians to Pakistanis. It's like, we need more candidates who get that our experiences and struggles aren't all the same. We're not just one monolith, you know? 
. I think it's amazing how he's using social media to reach out to them in their own languages, it's such a powerful way to connect with people and understand their concerns 
. He should definitely continue to engage with different South Asian communities, like the Indian Hindus who opposed him because of his criticism of Modi - it shows that he's not afraid to listen to everyone's perspectives 
. As the population is tripling, it's time for politicians to take them seriously and make sure their voices are heard 
. and his message about issues affecting south asian americans really resonates with ppl 
. it's all about understanding each subgroup's unique differences and tailoring messages to win them over 
He's not just targeting one specific language group or community, but rather speaking to multiple South Asian cultures like Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, and more. This approach shows that he truly understands the diversity within this growing demographic.
The way he's using cultural references to connect with voters on a deeper level is genius