The man hailed as the face of New York City’s progressive future is now facing accusations of dishonesty, hypocrisy, and privilege that could unravel his campaign. Zohran Mamdani, the self-described “card-carrying Democratic Socialist” and current NYC mayoral frontrunner, is embroiled in scandal after reports emerged that he misrepresented his racial identity on a Columbia University application.
The Columbia Controversy: Gaming the System?
According to records leaked from a recent Columbia University data breach, Mamdani—then a high school senior in 2009—checked both “Black” and “Asian” on his application forms. At the time, Columbia factored race heavily into admissions, a practice the Supreme Court has since struck down. Despite his father holding a prominent position at Columbia as the director of the Institute of African Studies, Mamdani was ultimately denied admission.
Mamdani defends his actions by claiming he didn’t see himself as either race but rather “an American born in Africa.” He argues that no box existed for Indian-Ugandan heritage, so he “checked multiple boxes to capture the fullness” of his background. Critics see it differently: an opportunistic attempt to exploit a flawed system designed to favor specific racial identities.
A Pattern of Privilege, Not Oppression
While Mamdani portrays himself as a champion of marginalized communities, his background tells a different story. The son of two elite intellectuals—his father an Ivy League professor, his mother a prominent filmmaker—Mamdani grew up surrounded by privilege. A recent financial disclosure revealed he holds less than $2,000 in liquid assets, which he’s used to frame himself as a struggling New Yorker. But opponents point out his family’s wealth and international property holdings, including land in Uganda, undermine any claim to working-class solidarity.
Gerard Kassar, chairman of the New York Conservative Party, didn’t mince words:
“Mamdani has got a lot of explaining to do. This is part of the fraud he has perpetrated on New Yorkers throughout the primary campaign.”
Mocking Faith and Doubling Down
The backlash deepened when Jewish advocacy groups criticized Mamdani for sharing a 2023 parody video that mocked Hanukkah traditions and accused participants of “cosplaying Jews.” Stop Antisemitism called the video “sick” and pointed to Mamdani’s history of controversial statements on Israel as further evidence of cultural insensitivity.
This isn’t a one-off misstep—it fits a broader pattern of behavior where Mamdani performs outrage politics while quietly enjoying the protections of wealth and elite connections.
The Bigger Picture: A Warning for NYC
This controversy exposes more than Mamdani’s character flaws; it’s a stark reminder of how identity politics erode public trust. When a politician can rebrand themselves as “the oppressed” while vacationing in Uganda and cashing a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary, something is deeply broken.
New York City voters are now faced with a choice: do they want another mayor who plays fast and loose with the truth while using the language of activism to cover privilege? Or are they ready to reject the illusion and demand accountability?
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