(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Three Muslim candidates with Indian backgrounds stood out as Democrats handed Donald Trump his first loss since he dominated the US presidential election last November. Zohran Mamdani, Aftab Pureval, and Ghazala Firdaus Hashmi were among the leading Democrats who triumphed in important elections in New York City, Cincinnati, and Virginia. Zohran Mamdani, who claimed victory in the New York City mayoral election, has Indian-American mother Mira Nair, while Hashmi was born in India. Pureval has a Punjabi dad and a Tibetan refugee mom from Ohio. Mamdani's mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed filmmaker. His father also has roots in Gujarat. Zohran's dad, Mahmood Mamdani, teaches anthropology at Columbia University. These triumphs come at a time when Democrats faced several defeats; therefore, the wins are significant both in meaning and impact.
Although President Trump did not personally run in each election, his power and endorsements influenced the outcomes. In New York, Trump backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo and hinted at the possibility of cutting federal funds if Mamdani succeeded. Cuomo was competing as an independent in the election.
In Virginia, 61-year-old Hashmi became the first Indian-American and Muslim to win the statewide office of Lieutenant Governor. She overcame Republican John Reid, a broadcaster from Richmond. Cincinnati Mayor Pureval has earned a second term by beating Trump's Republican opponent Cory Bowman, who is related to US Vice President JD Vance. Many voters are unhappy with Trump's performance in office. In several states, including Virginia, over half of the voters viewed their ballots as a message to Trump, according to a CNN report. It seems voters have shown discontent with Trump's policies on tariffs and immigration.
For now, the key point is obvious: three Muslim candidates of Indian heritage helped to change the story and dealt a significant setback to Republican momentum. How this will affect the upcoming 2026 mid-term and 2028 presidential elections is yet to be determined.
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to parents with connections to India, and he became an American citizen in 2018 just after finishing college. He spent part of his youth in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New York City at the age of seven. Earlier this year, Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist, in a ceremony at the City Clerk's Office. They met on the dating app Hinge and now live together in Astoria, Queens. The 34-year-old Mamdani, a state assemblyman who identifies as a democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary in June by defeating Andrew Cuomo. He will officially begin his role on January 1.
Ghazala Hashmi has made history as Virginia's first Indian-American and Muslim Lieutenant Governor. She won against Republican John Reid, a broadcaster from Richmond. Currently, Hashmi serves as a state senator for a district located south of Richmond and became well-known in Virginia politics after she successfully won a seat previously held by a Republican in 2019. Her campaign resonated widely among South Asians, particularly those of Pakistani descent, and reached many communities of immigrants. Ghazala Hashmi was born in 1964 in Hyderabad and has family roots in Karachi, now part of Pakistan. She came to the United States with her family from India at the age of four. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, she learned how community engagement and open conversations can connect people from diverse backgrounds. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Georgia Southern University and completed her PhD at Emory University.
Aftab Pureval, the Indian-origin Mayor of Cincinnati, made history by becoming the city's first Asian-American mayor when he was elected in 2021. Even though the mayor's office is non-partisan, Pureval is associated with the Democratic Party, according to the Associated Press. He was born to immigrant parents in Ohio, with his father hailing from Punjab. From a young age, he showed an interest in politics, winning his first student election in eighth grade with the campaign slogan "Big, Brown and Beautiful." After finishing his studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Pureval relocated to Washington, DC, in 2008 to work at a law firm. Four years later, he came back to Hamilton County, Ohio, to work as a special assistant US attorney for the Department of Justice. In 2013, he joined the well-known consumer product company Procter & Gamble in Ohio as legal counsel, where he acted as the global brand attorney for the well-liked skincare line Olay. He left the company three years later to officially start his political journey.
Former President Barack Obama expressed his congratulations on X to the Democratic candidates who won. "Congratulations to all of the Democratic candidates who achieved victory tonight. This reminds us that by uniting around strong leaders who look forward and care about important issues, we can succeed. There is still much work ahead, but the future appears somewhat brighter," said Obama in a post on X.
