From the Liveblog of
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Mamdani releases campaign ad in Arabic, jokes about knafeh from Nablus
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLuke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani releases a campaign ad in Arabic.
Mamdani, who is a Muslim and recently gave a landmark speech about Islamophobia, is the frontrunner to win Tuesday’s election.
“I know what you’re thinking — I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus, but my Arabic needs some work,” Mamdani, who is of Indian descent, says in the video. “Still, I would love to ask for your support on November 4th.”
In the ad, Mamdani pitches his promises to make New York more affordable, pets a bodega cat, and jokes about knafeh — an Arabic dessert — from Nablus, a city in the northern West Bank. A Palestinian flag is briefly seen behind the candidate, who is a longtime anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian activist and whose positions on the country and conflict have been a central issue in the race.
“I’m from you, and for you,” he says.
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك pic.twitter.com/ptfVdpansX
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 1, 2025
Mamdani studied Arabic in Cairo while he was a college student. As is customary in New York City mayoral campaigns, he has released campaign materials in different languages, including Yiddish.
The Times of Israel Community.