NYC mayoral race heats up as Mamdani’s past claims spark controversy and calls for inquiry

(TNND) — The race to be the next leader of New York City is now adding allegations of lying on a university application.

Zohran Mamdani, who won the recent Democratic Primary for Mayor reportedly falsely identified himself as African American on his Columbia University application.

The New York Times is reporting that Mamdani, identified as “Black or African American” on his 2009 Columbia University application. He has spoken about this in past interviews saying his claim was to represent his complex background. Mamdani was born in Uganda to Indian parents and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

It’s important to note that he wasn’t accepted to Columbia, but that’s not stopping current New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo from wanting an investigation.

According to the Center Square, Adams, a Black Democrat who is running for reelection as an independent, accused Mamdani of lying about his race and ethnicity in an attempt to gain an upper hand in the admissions process.

While Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary but is still running for mayor as an independent, suggested that Mamdani’s claim could be the “tip of the iceberg.”