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The Muslim Mayor They Tried to Stop—He Won Anyway

By Daisy Khan

Nov 07, 2025

Zohran Mamdani just made history by becoming the mayor-elect of New York City at 34 years old. The working class elected him while establishment Democrats and Republicans tried to stop his campaign by telling voters a Muslim couldn't lead effectively. In this episode of WISE Women with Daisy Khan, host Dr. Daisy Khan sits down with Farrah Khan, Former Mayor of Irvine, who made her own history as the first Muslim woman of color to lead a large American city. Together, they examine what Mamdani's victory means, how he built a coalition that transcended identity politics, and the brutal governance challenges waiting for him.

Nothing Was Handed to Anyone  

Mayor Farrah Khan began in biotech before pivoting to public service when she witnessed elected officials who didn't understand government. In Irvine, the city council catered policies to the same 10 people with luxury time to show up at meetings. Entitled people told her directly that her name made her 'UNELECTABLE.' That's when the fire ignited. She understood that throughout American history, nothing has been handed to marginalized communities. Everything gets fought for.

Mamdani followed a similar path. He built a broad, multi-racial coalition by addressing problems affecting everyone regardless of background. Khan emphasizes that no city in America allows narrow single-group victories. Coalitions must be built on platforms, not personality.

The Working Class Became the Political Force  

What makes Mamdani's victory unique is that the working class itself became the political force. People of all ethnicities face the same economic pressures. By addressing their problems directly, Mamdani built a coalition naturally. The coalition building happened because communities felt neglected by establishment politics.

Many need education about what the working class actually means. Whether you're a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, if you work for someone else, you're part of the working class. Understanding this helps people recognize why they should want the same goals that benefit everyone.

Governance Challenges From All Sides  

Mamdani's most pressing challenge won't be housing or security. It will come from establishment Democrats and Republicans working to block him at every turn. The mumblings have already started. People need to understand the pressure being placed on him as one person. He cannot accomplish all his goals alone.

Take free public transportation. In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is state-controlled. The governor appoints MTA board members. Whether they work with or against Mamdani matters enormously. The city council must approve his budget. Public input becomes critical. Supporters must speak up, speak out, and call out people making his job difficult.

Islamophobia Won't Stop After Election Day  

The Islamophobia Mamdani faced during the campaign won't end with him taking office. It will continue and evolve. Mayor Khan knows this from personal experience. Muslim elected officials face unique challenges that other politicians don't encounter. Understanding who your allies are becomes crucial for survival.

Khan emphasizes knowing who you are and why you ran in the first place. Keep that at the forefront when opposition mounts. Rely on the voters and public who supported you. Those people become the coalition that defends you when establishment forces attack.

What Muslim Elected Officials Face  

Key challenges Muslim mayors and officials encounter:

Constant Islamophobia - Anti-Muslim bias doesn't stop after winning office. It evolves and continues throughout the entire tenure, requiring constant vigilance to maintain focus on governance.

Establishment Opposition - Both establishment Democrats and Republicans work to block Muslim officials at every turn, using bureaucratic mechanisms to prevent progressive agendas.

Identity Differentiation - Community members sometimes distance themselves from elected officials despite shared backgrounds. Education about common interests helps overcome this division.

Public Pressure Requirements - Muslim elected officials need sustained public support beyond election day. Supporters must maintain campaign-level energy to defend against opposition.

Hiring Strategic Teams - Building competent teams with experience translating vision into reality determines success. The people around Muslim officials must understand the political landscape.

Historic Moment Beyond New York 

Mamdani's victory coincides with Ghazala Hashmi becoming Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, marking the first time a Muslim woman was elected to statewide office. These dual victories signal that Muslim Americans can win at every level of government when they address issues affecting all constituents. Mayor Khan's experience proved that Muslim women of color can lead large American cities effectively despite people claiming they were 'UNELECTABLE.'

Advice for Surviving the Toughest Job  

Mayor Khan offers crucial advice for Mamdani. Continue on the path that got you elected by keeping the people of New York close and involved. Understand who your allies are. Know who you are and why you ran. Keep that at the forefront when pressure mounts. Rely on the voters and public who supported you.

The struggle is real and ongoing. Muslim elected officials face challenges that others don't encounter. That same energy from the campaign must continue because the opposition won't stop trying to block progress. Mamdani's speech after winning brought everyone together, demonstrating his ability to unify diverse groups around a common vision.

Support Muslim Elected Officials  

Zohran Mamdani's victory shows what's possible when communities unite around shared problems rather than narrow identity politics. The governance challenges ahead require sustained public pressure beyond election day. Show up at city council meetings and public forums to defend the agenda you voted for. Call out establishment forces working to block progress. Maintain the same campaign energy throughout the tenure because the opposition won't stop trying to undermine Muslim leaders.

Educate yourself and others about what the working class actually means. Understanding shared economic interests helps build coalitions that transcend demographic divisions. Recognize that Muslim leadership in government strengthens democracy by proving that competence and vision matter more than name or background.

This is Wise Women with Daisy Khan – because every story matters. The journey ends not with what we acquire but with what we become. The qualities that sustain us through difficulty often become the very gifts we offer to the world. For more such inspiring stories and discussion, like, follow, and connect with Dr Daisy Khan.

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Where Muslim voices rise, bridges are built, and history's unsung heroines reclaim their light.

WISE Women with Daisy Khan gives voice to Muslims sharing their experiences with anti-Muslim bias, educates non-Muslims to become upstanders against discrimination, and spotlights extraordinary women throughout history whose contributions have been erased. We reclaim faith as a force for good while building bridges between East and West—transforming fear into understanding, one conversation at a time.

 

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News [Source: CBS Evening News]
A man sent a hateful message to a Muslim candidate. He responded with a call for help, article by Steve Hartman
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-man-sent-a-hateful-message-to-a-muslim-candidate-he-responded-with-a-call-to-help/

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