New York Mayor's Tax Filings Reveal Wife's Modest Income

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, recently faced scrutiny after their 2025 tax returns were made public. The filings showed that Duwaji, an artist known for her politically-charged work, earned only $10,010 before expenses from her visual design business - well below the federal poverty threshold. Meanwhile, Mamdani reported an income of over $130,000 from his Assembly salary and royalties. The couple's relatively low combined income and lack of reported charitable contributions have raised questions about the alignment between their progressive political platform and personal financial decisions.

Why it matters

As a prominent progressive politician, Mamdani has advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy and an expanded social safety net. However, the revelation of his wife's modest earnings and the couple's lack of reported charitable giving has sparked debate about the authenticity of their commitment to these policies.

The details

According to the tax filings, Duwaji reported only $10,010 in gross income from her visual design business before deducting $500 for 'art supplies,' leaving her with a net income of $8,860 - well below the 2025 federal poverty threshold of $15,650 for individuals. Mamdani, on the other hand, brought in $131,926 from his Assembly salary and an additional $1,600 in royalty payments from his hip-hop music. The couple also reported roughly $1,600 in capital gains.

• Mamdani and Duwaji's 2025 tax returns were recently made public.