Overview

• Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo have formally requested investigations into allegations that Mamdani misrepresented his racial identity on his 2009 Columbia University application.
• Published hacked admissions data show Mamdani checked both “Asian” and “Black or African American” boxes and wrote in “Ugandan” on his college form.
• Mamdani asserts he selected multiple categories solely to reflect his Indian-Ugandan background and did not aim for an admissions advantage.
• The New York Times has publicly defended its use of the stolen Columbia records, provoking debate over media ethics and sourcing.
• Mamdani remains the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor and is on course for the November general election.