January 12, 2026 - 3:00pm
Salman Rushdie has confirmed that he voted for Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral election.
In an interview with the New Statesman, the 78-year-old novelist described Mamdani, a former state assemblyman, as emblematic of a “generation shift, which I think is long overdue”. Rushdie praised Mamdani’s energy and ability to mobilise younger voters, saying, “He ran by far the best campaign, and he won handily. Certainly, he deserves his shot.” He also noted that some of Mamdani’s support reflected opposition to former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
A longtime self-described member of the political Left, Rushdie said Mamdani’s youthful appeal represented the kind of generational change he has long hoped to see. “The best part is the youthful part,” Rushdie said. “Because he was young and energetic, he was able to mobilise a younger generation of people who wanted somebody to be like that.”
Mamdani, 32, the son of Ugandan immigrants, ran on a progressive platform emphasising free buses, a rent freeze, and universal childcare. Rushdie argued that the campaign’s energy helped attract voters who may not have otherwise participated, noting, “I think a certain amount of the Mamdani vote is an anti-Cuomo vote, but the campaign itself was excellent.”
Rushdie also addressed Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian activism, a cause he has long supported. Drawing on his friendship with the late scholar Edward Said, he reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution while condemning Hamas. “I am not a fan of Hamas,” he said. “Some of the Left’s protests have erased the problem of Hamas to focus on Netanyahu. That is not right.”
He was also critical of Israel’s recent military campaign in Gaza, describing its actions as war crimes. But the Midnight’s Children author refused to describe the Jewish state’s actions as genocide, saying there is a “kind of bullying about accepting this word”. He acknowledged the severity of the attacks and described the Netanyahu government as “dreadful” and “immoral,” but stressed that the debate over terminology should not distract from the facts on the ground.
Reflecting on how his political outlook has evolved, Rushdie said he remains consistent in supporting Palestinian rights and opposing terrorism. “Edward was not a big fan of Arafat either,” he said. “The bottom line is there needs to be a Palestinian state, and we need to work out how to get there from here.”
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