Online Islamophobia Rises After Zohran Mamdani’s Victory

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim and New York State Assembly member, made history by winning New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, 2025. He beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 56% to 44% in the final round of ranked-choice voting. This victory puts Mamdani on track to possibly become the first Muslim mayor of New York City, a major milestone. But soon after his win, a wave of hateful online attacks targeting his Muslim faith, progressive ideas, and heritage swept across social media, according to a new study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH).

The CSOH report, called Digital Hate, Islamophobia, Zohran Mamdani, and NYC’s Mayoral Primary, tracked 6,669 social media posts about Mamdani from June 13 to June 30, 2025. These posts got over 419 million views, likes, shares, and comments, showing how quickly the hate spread. “This wasn’t just people disagreeing with his politics,” said Raqib Naik, CSOH’s Executive Director. “It was a planned attack using anti-Muslim hate and fear to target him.” The report, shared with TIME, shows how Mamdani’s win became a trigger for ugly online attacks.

Hate During the Campaign

Even before the primary, Mamdani faced prejudice. Flyers from Cuomo’s supporters showed Mamdani with a longer, darker beard, which he called out as “racist.” These attacks carried over online after he won. Within hours, platforms like X were flooded with hateful posts, with CAIR Action reporting that 62% of the anti-Muslim comments about Mamdani came from X. Some of these posts got millions of views.

Well-known figures joined in. Far-right activist Laura Loomer posted on X, calling Mamdani a “jihadist Muslim” and falsely linking him to Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. Charlie Kirk, who runs Turning Point USA, said, “24 years ago, Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11. Now a Muslim socialist could run New York City.” Representative Andy Ogles from Tennessee even called for Mamdani, a U.S. citizen born in Uganda to Indian parents, to be deported, using a slur to mock his faith. Representative Nancy Mace posted a picture of Mamdani at an Eid event, saying, “We said ‘Never Forget’ after 9/11, but it seems we have.”

A Bigger Problem

The CSOH says this hate is part of a larger pattern of anti-Muslim bias in U.S. politics, similar to how people were unfairly targeted during the 1950s Red Scare. Mamdani’s Muslim faith and progressive ideas were twisted to paint him as dangerous. Online, people shared memes showing the Statue of Liberty in a burqa or called for him to be watched or deported. This kind of hate can lead to real harm, experts warn. “Online attacks like these can turn into real-world violence,” Naik told TIME. Recently, a woman in Queens was attacked on a subway after being asked if she was Muslim, and an NYU Muslim prayer room was vandalized.

Kayla Bassett, a researcher at CSOH, is worried about the upcoming November 2025 election. “This level of hate could scare voters or stop other Muslim or immigrant candidates from running,” she said.

Mamdani Stays Strong

Despite the attacks, Mamdani isn’t backing down. He told The Independent he wants to “fight hate across the city” and plans to boost funding for programs that stop hate crimes by 800%. “I’ve talked to Muslims in New York who are afraid to be seen in public because they’re labeled as terrorists,” he said on MSNBC. “This isn’t how our city should be.” His campaign focuses on making life more affordable, like free buses and trains, rent freezes for some apartments, and cheaper groceries. These ideas have won support from many communities, including Muslims, Jews, and South Asians in places like Little Bangladesh and Jackson Heights.

Mamdani’s ability to bring people together helped him win. He teamed up with Jewish Comptroller Brad Lander and Black candidate Michael Blake, building a diverse group of supporters. Progressive leaders like Representative Jerrold Nadler and commentator Waleed Ali have praised him. Ali called his win “a true American story.” But some Democrats, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have been criticized for not speaking out strongly against the hate. Gillibrand later apologized after wrongly saying Mamdani supported “global jihad.”

What’s Next

Mamdani now faces a tough general election against Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, and possibly Cuomo again. The CSOH warns that online hate could get worse and make anti-Muslim attacks seem normal. Basim Elkarra from CAIR Action urged leaders to speak out, saying, “Hate speech can lead to violence, and it’s shocking that some officials are adding to it.”

Mamdani’s win is a big moment for New York City, showing that diverse voices can rise in politics. But the hate he’s facing shows how much work is still needed to fight prejudice. As he campaigns for City Hall, his focus on unity and fairness will be key, and many are watching to see if he can overcome the hate and make history again.