Zahran Mamdani He is officially the mayor of New York City, having been sworn in at the start of 2026 following a closely watched campaign focused on affordability and housing. His wife, the Syrian artist, stood by his side throughout the race and his historic inauguration Rama Dawajiwhom he married in early 2025.
Learn more about Zahran and Rama’s relationship below.
Zahran and Rama met on the joint
Zahran and Rama have a recent romance, having met on the dating app Hinge, which the politician attributed to him during a previous interview on “The Bulwark” podcast by noting that “there is still hope in those dating apps.”
Rama is an illustrator and animator
As seen on her Instagram page, Rama is a skilled and dedicated artist. She regularly shares her work on social media and has been featured in numerous publications, including The New Yorker.
Recently, Dawaji rose to the public eye with his stunning photoshoot Pieceswhere she appears on the cover as New York City’s youngest First Lady — blending her creative voice with her chic fashion presence ahead of her husband’s inauguration as mayor.
Rama and Zahran will get married in 2025
In early 2025, Zahran and Rama were married in New York City in a notary’s office. They kept their promises low-key while Zahran sought the mayor’s ticket. While talking to Interview magazine Regarding the civil ceremony, Zahran said of the clerk’s office: “The outside is very beautiful and reminds us of a different New York City, and the inside in many ways embodies public goods. All these New Yorkers getting married at the same time, at different ages, at different times in their lives, it is a very beautiful thing.”
Zahran calls her the love of his life
Being close to a politician has its negative sides. As her husband ascended, Rama faced cyberbullying, but Zahran did not. In an Instagram carousel post in May 2025, he shared photos from his wedding with Rama and defended her against “right-wing trolls.”
“If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day, you will know how fierce politics is,” Zahran admitted. “I usually ignore it, whether it’s a death threat or a demand to deport me. But it’s a different story when it comes to people I love. Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, in the city clerk’s office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race — which should be about you — about her. Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an amazing artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can criticize my opinions, but not my family.”
