Zohran Mamdani’s groundbreaking victory in the New York City mayoral election has immediately sparked political controversy. At 34, Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor-elect, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo by nearly ten percentage points. While he secured a narrow overall majority, his win marked a historic moment for representation in American politics.
Despite the milestone, Republican leaders in Washington, D.C., have signaled intentions to challenge Mamdani’s eligibility for office. Former President Donald Trump has been particularly vocal, labeling Mamdani a “communist” and warning that federal funding could be withheld from New York City if he assumed the mayoralty. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and current New York State Assembly member, now faces a series of legal and political hurdles before taking office.
Several Republican lawmakers have raised questions about Mamdani’s naturalization process, alleging potential omissions in his path to U.S. citizenship. Some have called for federal investigations, while others have gone further, suggesting he be stripped of citizenship and deported, citing unverified claims of communist sympathies and alleged ties to individuals accused of terrorism.
“If Mamdani lied on his naturalization documents, he doesn’t get to be a citizen — and he certainly doesn’t get to run for mayor of New York City,” said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) in an October 29 press release. “A great American city is on the precipice of being run by a communist who has publicly embraced a terroristic ideology.” Ogles also urged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to initiate a full-scale investigation, emphasizing that any alignments with communism or terrorism must be disclosed during the naturalization process.
Compounding the scrutiny, a conservative campaign finance watchdog has filed criminal referrals against Mamdani. The Coolidge Reagan Foundation alleges his campaign accepted illegal foreign contributions in violation of federal and New York election laws. Reports indicate that approximately $13,000 in donations came from at least 170 foreign individuals, including a contribution from Mamdani’s mother-in-law in Dubai.
“These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors,” said Dan Backer, president of the foundation. “This was a sustained pattern of foreign money flowing into a New York City mayoral race — a clear violation of both federal law and New York City campaign finance rules.” Federal law prohibits any U.S. candidate from accepting contributions from non-citizens in elections at all levels, with violations potentially resulting in substantial fines or imprisonment.
Mamdani’s campaign has reportedly returned about $9,000 of the questioned donations as investigations and political pressure intensify. What was once celebrated as a historic electoral milestone now faces a series of legal and political challenges that could determine whether Mamdani ultimately assumes office.
