Oct. 23, 2024 – Mr. Mamdani launches his campaign with a slickly edited video. The video references Mr. Adams’s indictment and the policies of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and lays out the campaign’s three signature policy proposals: fast and free buses, free child care, and freezing the rent for rent-stabilized tenants.
Nov. 3, 2024 – Carrying a microphone in one hand and a water bottle in the other, Mr. Mamdani records a video while running the New York City Marathon wearing a black T-shirt reading “Eric Adams Raised My Rent!” His time of 5:38:10 marks an improvement from his 2022 performance.
Nov. 15, 2024 – The campaign’s first viral moment arrives after President Trump wins a second term. Mr. Mamdani films interviews with voters at Fordham Road in the Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens—two areas that swung significantly toward Mr. Trump. Through simple questions, he captures the frustrations fueling his campaign.
Dec. 4, 2024 – Hundreds of volunteers gather for the first town hall hosted by Mr. Mamdani and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Days later, canvassers begin fieldwork for Mr. Mamdani, a longtime DSA member endorsed by the local chapter.
Dec. 12, 2024 – Mr. Mamdani announces a plan to build five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough. This policy highlights his focus on the soaring cost of living—an issue that resonates deeply with many voters.
Jan. 1, 2025 – A campaign video shows Mr. Mamdani participating in a quintessential New York City tradition: diving into the freezing waters off Coney Island on New Year’s Day. Wearing a $30 thrift-store suit, he emphasizes his promise to freeze rents for rent-stabilized units across the city.
Jan. 13 – Following up on his polar plunge video, Mr. Mamdani is seen humorously enjoying chicken over rice from a food cart. In this video, he explains how the city’s arcane permitting process is squeezing food vendors and driving what he calls “halalflation.”
Jan. 14 – Still relatively unknown to much of the electorate, Mr. Mamdani surprises observers by announcing he has raised over $642,000—the highest amount among mayoral candidates between early October and January.
Feb. 7 – In an early Democratic primary poll, Mr. Mamdani appears tied for last place, garnering just 1 percent support among likely voters.
Feb. 18 – After a stellar fundraising quarter, Mr. Mamdani is awarded $2.82 million in public matching funds by the Campaign Finance Board—more than any other candidate.
March 1 – Mr. Cuomo announces his mayoral run in a 17-minute video, presenting himself as the solution to New York City’s problems with crime, dirt, and incompetence.
March 12 – In Albany, Mr. Mamdani and dozens of protesters confront Thomas D. Homan, President Trump’s border czar, during a State Capitol meeting with ruling Republicans. A viral video captures Mr. Mamdani tussling with state troopers, and his campaign raises $250,000 within 24 hours.
March 23 – As Mr. Cuomo takes the lead, a group of ideologically aligned rivals begin working together to attack him and strategize using the city’s ranked-choice voting system. They criticize Mr. Cuomo’s pandemic-era decision to allow nursing homes to readmit hospital patients who had tested positive for coronavirus, blaming him for increased nursing home deaths. Mr. Cuomo responds that he was following federal guidelines.
March 24 – Mr. Mamdani’s campaign gains momentum as he becomes the first candidate to reach the city’s fundraising cap, playfully urging donors in a video to “stop sending us money.”
March 26 – For the first time, Mr. Mamdani reaches double digits in a reliable public opinion survey conducted by The New York Times’s polling unit.
March 29 – The left-leaning Working Families Party endorses a slate of four mayoral candidates aiming to defeat Mr. Cuomo. Mr. Mamdani is their progressive first choice.
April 1 – Acknowledging that prior calls to cut the Police Department’s budget could hurt him, Mr. Mamdani releases a plan to create a separate Department of Community Safety while maintaining the current police force size.
April 3 – Mr. Adams announces he will skip the Democratic primary and run for re-election as an independent, a development that seems to strengthen Mr. Cuomo by allowing him to attract more moderate Democrats.
April 24 – Mr. Mamdani airs his first television advertisement during a New York Knicks playoff game, attacking Mr. Cuomo’s record as governor.
June 2 – In an early sign of race- and religion-based smears affecting the race, Republican councilwoman Vickie Paladino calls for Mr. Mamdani’s deportation. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mr. Mamdani is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
June 4 – Though not universally fluent, Mr. Mamdani adeptly records campaign videos in several languages, including Hindi, where he explains ranked-choice voting using cups of mango lassi. Later, his campaign releases a humorous video highlighting his struggle to film one in Spanish.
June 5 – The day after the primary’s first major debate, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorses Mr. Mamdani, lending her star power to his ascendant campaign. This endorsement—from an ally of fellow candidate and City Comptroller Brad Lander—underscores Mr. Mamdani’s growing momentum on the left.
June 13 – Demonstrating the lengths progressive candidates will go to block Mr. Cuomo, Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Lander cross-endorse each other.
June 14 – At a large rally at Terminal 5 on Manhattan’s Far West Side, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and other prominent supporters argue that Mr. Mamdani’s campaign is a model for national Democrats to embrace.
June 17 – On the same day Senator Bernie Sanders endorses Mr. Mamdani, Mr. Lander is detained by federal agents while escorting immigrants from court in Lower Manhattan. His arrest sparks outrage among Democrats and raises his profile. Meanwhile, a conservative podcast releases an interview with Mr. Mamdani, where he refuses to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” viewed by some as a call to violence against Jews.
June 19 – The Police Department investigates bomb threats against Mr. Mamdani. (Months later, a Texas man is arrested and charged.)
June 20 – Mr. Mamdani walks the entire length of Manhattan—from Inwood Hill Park to Battery Park—on a busy Friday evening. The seven-hour stroll is featured in an emotional video where he thanks supporters, symbolizing the campaign’s effort to connect directly with voters.
June 24 – Despite polls showing rising support, the political world is stunned when Mr. Mamdani’s large lead in the primary is revealed on election night. Mr. Cuomo quickly concedes.
July 1 – The Associated Press calls the Democratic primary for Mr. Mamdani shortly after New York City’s Board of Elections releases its ranked-choice ballot tabulation.
July 14 – After weeks of uncertainty, Mr. Cuomo announces he will run as an independent in the general election.
July 15 – During a meeting with influential business leaders, Mr. Mamdani says he will avoid using the phrase “globalize the intifada” and will discourage others from using it as well.
July 18 – Mr. Mamdani meets with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for an hour in Mr. Jeffries’s Brooklyn district. No endorsement is announced immediately.
July 20 – Mr. Mamdani announces via video that he is traveling to Uganda with his wife, Rama Duwaji, to celebrate their recent marriage with family and friends.
July 28 – While Mr. Mamdani is overseas, a gunman opens fire in the lobby of a Midtown Manhattan office tower, killing four people, including an off-duty New York City police officer, Didarul Islam, who was Bangladeshi and, like Mr. Mamdani, a Muslim. Mr. Mamdani cuts his trip short and, two days later, visits the officer’s family in the Bronx for an hourlong private meeting. At a news conference later that day, he expresses anguish over the attack and defends himself against questions about his years-old criticisms of the Police Department.
Aug. 6 – The New York Times reports on a call between Mr. Cuomo and President Trump, who is considering involvement in the election. Both men deny that the call occurred.
Aug. 24 – Nearly 4,000 people participate in a citywide scavenger hunt organized by the Mamdani campaign.
Sept. 5 – Mr. Mamdani’s campaign hits the $8 million fundraising cap for the general election.
Sept. 14 – Mainstream Democrats begin to coalesce behind Mr. Mamdani as Gov. Kathy Hochul endorses him, acknowledging their ideological differences but emphasizing shared priorities. Three days later, Carl Heastie, Speaker of the New York State Assembly, also endorses Mr. Mamdani.
Sept. 28 – Mr. Adams abandons his campaign for a second term.
Oct. 1 – Mr. Mamdani’s first general election ad airs. The spot features a Bronx resident lamenting, “I used to love New York. Now it’s just where I live.” This sets up Mr. Mamdani’s argument that his goal is to make life easier for New Yorkers.
