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Rama Duwaji Comes Into Focus as Mamdani Becomes New York's First Muslim Mayor

The Syrian-American illustrator shaped the campaign's visuals, drawing attention for pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Overview

  • Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral race, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, is being profiled as the city's first Generation Z first lady.
  • Duwaji, 28, met Mamdani on Hinge in 2021 and the couple married in February 2025, with a post-courthouse subway photo going viral.
  • She avoided a traditional public role during the campaign, skipping rallies and interviews while advising privately on messaging and aesthetics.
  • Her input included coordinating the campaign's signature poster design, which drew on familiar New York fonts and colors tied to local icons.
  • An artist whose work features Middle Eastern women and Gaza, Duwaji's pro-Palestinian posts aligned with Mamdani's critiques of Israel and were reported to have cost him some Jewish votes.