Muslim Leaders in New York City Move to Expand Political Power

Zohran Mamdani's election as mayor has galvanized Muslim organizers and faith leaders to build new political alliances.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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With Zohran Mamdani as the new mayor of New York City, Muslim organizers and faith leaders are working to expand their political influence and insert themselves into more formal political networks. A group of mostly Muslim leaders in the Bronx voted to join the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, a longstanding nonpartisan organizing network, forming a new coalition called Bronx First. The group aims to advocate for policy goals around affordable housing, public safety, and mental health resources, while also seeking to increase voter turnout and engagement among Muslim New Yorkers.

Why it matters

The growing political mobilization of Muslim communities in New York City reflects a broader trend of marginalized groups seeking to assert their political power, especially in the wake of incidents of Islamophobia and other challenges facing their communities. The Bronx First coalition's efforts to build cross-faith and cross-community alliances also demonstrate the potential for diverse groups to unite around shared policy priorities.

The details

The Bronx First coalition includes dozens of churches, community centers, and more than 40 mosques. The group raised nearly $160,000 at its inaugural event, where roughly 2,000 people across faiths, generations, and socioeconomic statuses gathered to formalize their addition to the coalition. While some speakers criticized Mayor Mamdani for not attending the event, the group affirmed its top demands of city leadership, focusing on public safety, affordable housing, and mental health resources. The coalition's newer Muslim members have underscored the need for more public safety measures in their communities, pointing to instances of gang violence and the increase in detainments and deportations that have impacted many immigrant residents.

  • The Bronx First coalition voted to join the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
  • The group's inaugural event, where they raised nearly $160,000, took place on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The newly elected mayor of New York City, who is Muslim and of South Asian descent. Mamdani's campaign galvanized a record number of Muslim voters in the city.

Haji Dukuray

A board member with the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx who helped organize the Bronx First coalition's inaugural event.

Afaf Nasher

The executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization, who commented on the shift in the Muslim community's approach to political engagement.

Metro Industrial Areas Foundation

A longstanding nonpartisan organizing network that the Bronx First coalition has joined.

Bronx First

A new coalition formed by the Bronx-based group that joined the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, including dozens of churches, community centers, and more than 40 mosques.

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What they’re saying

“We all face the same challenges as everybody else in the community.”

— Haji Dukuray, Board member, Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx

“We invited him, and he decided to ignore us. That's a huge mistake on his part. But we don't need him here to organize ourselves.”

— Haji Dukuray, Board member, Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx

“This mentality of 'listen, we're here to do well for ourselves and our communities and to show our neighbors that we're good people' has kind of shifted over to 'we're being treated like crap and need to empower ourselves'. This is not the Muslim community trying to gain power for power's sake.”

— Afaf Nasher, Executive Director, Council on American Islamic Relations (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Bronx First coalition plans to continue its advocacy efforts, focusing on policy goals around affordable housing, public safety, and mental health resources. The group will also work to increase voter turnout and engagement among Muslim New Yorkers.

The takeaway

The growing political mobilization of Muslim communities in New York City, exemplified by the formation of the Bronx First coalition, demonstrates the power of marginalized groups to unite and assert their political influence, even in the face of challenges like Islamophobia and community displacement. This trend could have significant implications for the city's policymaking and power dynamics in the years to come.