Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Triggers Wave of Islamophobia in U.S. Political Discourse

Just hours after Zohran Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, a flood of online hate erupted, an orchestrated digital assault that revealed the enduring grip of Islamophobia in American political discourse.

The 33-year-old Muslim assemblyman and democratic socialist defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 56% of the vote in a ranked-choice primary. 

The outcome represented more than a political upset; it signified a historic breakthrough for Muslim representation in the heart of America’s largest city. Yet, it quickly became a trigger for mass digital hate, exposing deep-rooted fears and biases about Muslims in public life.

According to a comprehensive study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), 6,669 posts mentioning Mamdani appeared between June 13 and June 30. On the day of the primary alone, 899 posts surfaced. The next day, that number more than doubled to 2,173. 

These posts generated over 419 million total engagements, views, likes, shares, and comments, making it one of the most aggressively targeted online hate campaigns against a Muslim political figure in recent American memory.

“It was a coordinated multi-platform surge of anti-Muslim hate, ideological fear mongering, and nativist exclusion,” explained Raqib Naik, Executive Director at CSOH. “What we've witnessed was not just criticism of his policies.”

Nearly 40% of the posts contained explicit anti-Muslim language, with labels such as “jihadi,” “radical Muslim,” or “terrorist sympathizer.” Others portrayed Islam as inherently incompatible with American governance, warning of an imminent “Sharia law takeover” or evoking 9/11 to stoke fear. 

Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, posted,  “24 years ago, a group of Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11. Now a Muslim Socialist is on pace to run New York City.” President Donald Trump chimed in, calling Mamdani “a 100% Communist Lunatic.”

The convergence of religious and ideological attacks was particularly alarming. Over half the Islamophobic posts also demonized Mamdani’s democratic-socialist platform as “communist infiltration.” 

“Those two things fused together give us the broader concern that this content… affects Muslim communities in America more broadly,” warned Kayla Bassett, CSOH’s Director of Research.

Mamdani’s opponents, including Cuomo’s campaign, employed offline tactics echoing the same themes. Flyers circulated with Mamdani’s beard digitally darkened and lengthened, a move Mamdani described as drawing on “racist tropes.”

But the hate wasn’t limited to U.S. sources. Hindu nationalist accounts, both domestic and from India, joined the campaign, branding Mamdani as “anti-Hindu.” Some cited his opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots or his stance against the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration. 

One post warned his election would “fuel hate against Hindus.” According to CSOH, “a local US political race became fodder for local hate campaigns in India.”

This convergence of Islamophobia, red-baiting, and nativist rhetoric follows an old playbook of American moral panic. “The United States is currently, [in terms of] political polarization within its history, at its peak,” said Naik. “When you blend that information ecosystem with so much hate and misinformation, it ends up eroding our civic space.”

Despite the hate, Mamdani’s approach offered a counter-model. Rather than campaign solely on identity, he focused on relatable economic issues. 

“Everyone has to buy groceries. Everyone has to pay bills,” said campaign supporter Asad Dandia. Mamdani’s grassroots work, especially with New York’s taxi workers and food vendors, centered around the material needs of working-class people.

“It’s interesting how identity played a role in this campaign,” noted Fahd Ahmed of DRUM Beats. “It wasn’t completely sidelined, but it wasn’t the crux of politics.” 

Instead, Mamdani connected his identity to community struggles, What does child care mean to a working mom? How does policing affect Muslim youth? Why are cab drivers ignored?

Still, the attacks show no sign of slowing. Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles referred to Mamdani as “little Muhammad” and demanded denaturalization. Far-right activist Laura Loomer even suggested Mamdani would be responsible for another 9/11-style attack.

Amid this storm, fears about real-world repercussions are rising. On June 30, a Muslim woman was beaten in Queens after being asked, “Are you Muslim?” At NYU, a prayer room was desecrated with urine and slurs.

Bassett expressed concern: “It’s hard to say that this is going to happen, but I do worry a bit about things like voter intimidation or what that [voting] experience will be like.”

These online attacks aren’t just about Zohran Mamdani; they’re about the civic legitimacy of Muslim Americans. As Naik said, “There is this real genuine risk that this digital hate can spill further into real world harm and impact Muslims, those perceived as Muslim, and their supporters.”

Social media platforms, despite previous promises, have been slow to respond. X (formerly Twitter), where 64.6% of hate posts appeared, has downsized its safety infrastructure.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, scaled back its third-party fact-checking efforts this year. “Most recently this year, I think we’ve seen a downturn in [their] appetite to moderate content,” said Bassett.

The consequences are sobering. According to CSOH, unchecked digital harassment can discourage participation in civic life. Their report draws a stark comparison to McCarthyism, only this time, it’s Muslim Americans who are being cast as the enemy within.

In the face of this, Mamdani and his team are staying focused. “We will not accept this intimidation,” Mamdani said in response to Trump’s threats. His supporters believe that centering the campaign on affordability and equity—issues that touch all communities—can still carry the day.

But the hate campaign following Mamdani’s win makes one thing clear: the fight for representation is far from over. As New York prepares for its general election, the question isn’t just whether a Muslim can become mayor, but whether America is willing to allow Muslims full and fair participation in its democratic future.