Zohran Mamdani's win: How a dating app set up New York's new power couple

Zohran Mamdani is making history as New York City's newest mayor, bringing several notable "firsts" to the office. He has become both the city's first Muslim and first Indian American mayor. Adding to this list, he is also the youngest mayor in a century to hold the post.

Beyond these political achievements, Mamdani's personal life reflects the modern reality of his millennial-driven campaign: he is reportedly the first mayor to have met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on a dating app.Mamdani, a New York State assemblyman before his mayoral win, first disclosed how he met his wife during a summer appearance on The Bulwark podcast. “There is still hope in those dating apps,” he said. According to Time magazine, the couple met on Hinge long before he became prominent in state politics.

Duwaji, 27, is a Brooklyn-based artist who has been involved in Mamdani's political work from the start.

From app to partnership

The couple's first interaction came through the dating app, where Duwaji noticed Mamdani's bio mentioned housing justice and halal cart politics. "I almost didn't swipe right," Duwaji said in an interview, "but then I saw his bio said something about housing justice and halal cart politics." That initial match led to a date and eventually a partnership that now extends from City Hall to Brooklyn's coffee shops.

Reports say that Duwaji has played a significant role in shaping Mamdani’s public image and campaign strategy. Her background in art and understanding of social media helped define the visual and digital storytelling elements of his mayoral run.

A ‘millennial campaign’

Mamdani's campaign reflected his generation’s habits and platforms. He made press stops at late-night clubs, appeared at the New York City Marathon, and built a substantial presence on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

His social media strategy treated these platforms not as broadcast channels but as spaces for ongoing engagement with voters.The campaign used short-form video content that combined humour, accessibility and policy discussion. This approach helped transform Mamdani from an underdog candidate into a frontrunner. His team built a volunteer base exceeding 85,000 people, largely through social media channels.