Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has comfortably won the election to be New York City mayor against the scandal-prone Andrew Cuomo, who was endorsed by Donald Trump. Mamdani made campaign promises of free buses, no rent, fewer cops and higher taxes for the wealthy and big business which resulted in the highest turnout in more than 50 years. Though some are questioning whether he can deliver.
There were several Democratic victories across the country in other special elections though commentators warn that the party’s brand is still under water, with its approval rating hitting a 30-year-low. A recent opinion poll found that 68% of Americans think Democrats are out of touch – more than the 63% who see Trump in the same way.
Mandani, born 18 October 1991 1.15 am Kampala Uganda, to an Indian family with a Muslim father and Hindu mother, is the first Muslim mayor-elect of New York. He grew up partly in South Africa, coming to the US when he was 7 and had a ‘privileged’ upbringing.
He has a communicative 3rd house Libra Sun conjunct an intense Mars in Scorpio in a hard-edged square to a 7th house Saturn in Aquarius. His Mars is also conjunct Mercury in Scorpio in his 3rd house, hence his ability and inclination to speak forcefully. He has the generational inspired and can-be-radical Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn close to the North Node in his hard-working 6th house trine a surprisingly frivolous and indulgent Jupiter Venus in Virgo in his financial 2nd house. His 7th house Aquarius Moon squares a 4th house Pluto making him emotionally detached and intense at the same time.
His Progressed Moon moving through his career 10th for another 18 months will keep him focused and tr Pluto through his 7th for many years to come will ramp up his interactions with both allies and enemies. Assuming his birth time is accurate Jupiter through his 1st house from July 2026 onwards will give him a confidence boost. He has a fair way to go on his upward trajectory in his Saturn career cycle not reaching his peak till 2029 and for seven years thereafter.
New York mayor is a tough job so strains and stresses would inevitably crop up no matter who was at the helm. Neptune back into Aries early in 2026 will bring a few failed plans for him in May, June 2026 onwards with more anxiety from August 2026 and more so in 2027. 2028 looks to be a downer with his Solar Arc Saturn opposition his Jupiter. And his Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Moon in 2028/29 hints at upsets and perhaps a shift in his popularity with an unsettled electorate.
His relationship with Donald Trump who called his election “a nightmare” is hostility-on-steroids with a composite Pluto Mars Jupiter conjunction opposition Uranus and on one leg of a yod sextile Neptune inconjunct Saturn. Plus a disappointing, evasive composite Sun square Neptune. That is unresolvable dislike with an endless struggle for the upper hand and last word.
Tr Neptune will undermine their composite Pluto and conjunct the Uranus from now through till late January 2026 with the fanatical dislike on both sides lighting up the ether. Tr Saturn in Pisces will also ramp up the dislike mid January to mid February 2026. Tensions will erupt into the open. That last is also a point that shows up as high stress on the New York chart itself.
Mamdani’s reforming Uranus is conjunct the New York (1 January 1898) Capricorn Sun so he will push on with progressive changes. The relationship chart between him and NY does not point to an easy association – with an argumentative, overly dominant composite Mars Sun square Pluto which is being rattled considerably from late April through May 2026; and again mid January to early April 2027 with tr Uranus in hard aspect. Late April 2026 as well, an uncertain tr Neptune square the composite Saturn will cause concern on and off into early 2027.
Add ON: He is due to take up his office on midnight 1 January 2026. This puts a lucky, successful Jupiter in the 10th though it does oppose the Mars/Pluto midpoint with Sun, Venus, Mars conjunct and Pluto all sitting in the domestic 4th . It certainly suggests a highly active administration pushing ahead with extraordinary determination. Though running into resistance from a section of malcontented locals.
Saturn Neptune Scheat in the 6th will focus on health and employment with a view to improving the situation of those in need with help from a Jupiter trine which may not be enough to totally resolve the problem. Uranus in the 8th trine a 4th house Pluto points to financial issues and instability as well as a (maybe subversive?) radical agenda though it may have problems seeing the light of day. The 3rd house Mercury = communication and local transport) is badly aspected being square Saturn Neptune and inconjunct Uranus – so difficulties getting the right message across and muddles in local travel.
Perhaps the 4th house Pluto, trine 8th Uranus, reflects Mamdani’s pledge to ‘freeze the rent’ and address the city’s housing crisis? Obviously, this is complicated, and NYC does already have some kind of rent controlled properties. There’s a good article in The Atlantic by Roge Karma, looking at all sides of this issue, and how rents and new developments are linked.
“Without enough new construction, the housing crisis will only get worse over time, tempting city leaders to engage in even more egregious forms of rent control, which will in turn make building homes even harder. This could trigger the kind of cycle that leads economists to compare rent control to bombing.” theatlantic.com
It will be interesting to see how this goes – most major cities have a real problem with soaring rents, not enough new housing, and so on. Keeping everyone happy will be a real challenge – property developers won’t build unless they make money. A richer neighbourhood with new homes pushes up rents. Etc etc.
Those Victorian philanthropists (Peabody, Guinness) built new homes for what our government likes to call “working people” which are still standing here in London. I haven’t checked the astrology for this. Others built homes for their employees – Cadbury for example, while police and teachers also had homes attached to their job benefits. It all seemed very sensible.
So how about some billionaires having a go at helping out on the global housing crisis? Pluto in Aquarius, over to you.
Well, an interesing coincidence and perhaps some hope for the housing question – back in 1862, when George Peabody founded his Trust, there was an opposition between Saturn 1 Libra, and Neptune 1 Aries. How might that mix of idealism and structure connect with the Saturn/Neptune conjunction in early Aries that’s approaching us now?
Also, Uranus was in Gemini. Pluto getting going in Taurus, first ten degrees.
The first completed building, in Spitalfields, London, opened in the autumn of 1864. In November Jupiter in Sagittarius trined Neptune in Aries.
American George Peabody himself was an Aquarian, Sun conjunct Pluto square Saturn (17 Feb 1795). Pluto in Aquarius, although 25 degrees. But, perhaps, a hopeful sign for would-be philanthropists everywhere!
In his chart, I was drawn to Chiron conj. his Ascendant and opposing Saturn/Moon. I look at Saturn/Moon as representing the homeland, security, belonging, etc. And, Chiron right there, that deep wound. Looks like this is very personal for him, the sense of belonging, Aquarius, for the masses.
Earth grand trine if MC is taken into consideration and birth time is accurate. Any significance in this aspect?
Mars was opposite Uranus when Mamdani and the others got elected.
Uranus is usually about previously observed boundaries being breached. So this feels like more than mid-term blues. A rubicon being crossed?
Mamdani’s politics seem as bonkers as Trump’s from the other side. The US is descending into proper fantasy politics.
There is so much talk about “a return to the 1930’s” by which people mean 1930’s Germany, but I wonder if what is happening is Americans are revisiting their OWN politics from the 1930s.
For example Huey Long. He opposed Roosevelt from the left. Here are some details: “Long like many others accused Roosevelt’s plans of not going far enough in the assistance of the poorest members of society. As such, Long created his own alternative to the New Deal which was called “Share Our Wealth”. Long came up the a promise that he would confiscate anybody’s personal fortune that exceeded $3 million and redistribute the wealth to American families.”
Then there was Father Coughlin. “The Catholic priest had a radio show on which he attacked Roosevelt for the same reasons as Long had: not going far enough to help the poor. He also said that the president was “anti-God”.” He combined all this with some seriously nasty racism – he defended kristalnacht and by the late 30’s was openly pro-Nazi.
All these themes are back, on both the left and the right.
Mamdani’s policies seem like fairly sensible social democratic ones to me, not too dissimilar to what you’d get in Western European countries. Claiming that they’re as bonkers as Trump’s ideas is, well, bonkers in itself.
Rent control is one of the most bonkers ideas known to man. Everywhere it’s been tried, it’s failed. It’s as bonkers as tariffs.
These are both failed ideas from a century ago. And there is Tucker Carlson channelling Father Coughlin’s antisemitism, Mamdani channelling Huey Long. You just need Italian-Americans to start marching in support of Mussolini and you’ve got a complete “Back to the 1930’s” thing going on.
From my side of the Atlantic, it looks like you’ve all lost your minds.
There has long been a segment of NYC housing that is rent controlled. People who have rent-controlled apartments hold on to them forever and even pass them along to family, as is the case of a friend who moved out of New York long ago but whose daughter has now lived there for decades.
Many other cities, including my city of San Diego, have considered rent control but generally have rejected it because it discourages construction of new housing.
There are only two proven ways to reduce rents:
a) build a lot of new homes so the supply of homes increases faster than the demand for them.
b) do what Shanghai is doing and prevent new people from moving to the city. It’s China, you need permits to move everywhere. Restricting permits if your city has housing problems is a way of controlling demand.
If you don’t increase supply or reduce demand, but just pass a rent control law, you end up in a world of trouble.
Huey Long though is interesting and not studied much these days. He was definitely more populist and closer to a democratic socialist than Mamdani, and was also willing to play fast and loose with the rules to get what he wanted. He went too far in this regard but you can’t deny he was effective and willing to actually fight for things. Marjorie, is it possible for you to look at his chart?
Huey Long? As in, Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and standing over his wife and sister-in-law at the dinner table, and menacingly seething: “What do you think you are? A pair of queens? Now just remember what Huey Long said – that every man’s a king – and I’m the King around here, and don’t you forget it!”
That Huey Long? I’d automatically assumed from that line delivery that this Huey guy was as much of a misogynist pig as Kowalski was to be endorsed by such a man. I didn’t stop to think he was an actual political historical figure.
Huey Long controlled Louisiana. Streetcar is set in New Orleans. The Kowalski-types were indeed his core voters.
Mandani will be helpless against ICE and those Democratic women governors will not even control their National Guard that Trump can use at will. Project 2025 will dispense with democracy as soon as it is seriously threatened. Trump will never allow the Demcorats to take back the House next year, much less the Senate. All this is a sideshow. It’s good and nice to see resistance, but change won’t happen for many years and a civil war is still a distinct possibilily. Indeed, it may begin in New York City when Uranus reaches 8 Gemini, which is quite soon.
If Trump really believes he can stop Democrats from taking back government, I would respectfully advise him to watch the 2024 movie “Civil War,” which involved a president’s attempt to serve a third term and take over the government. Let’s just say it didn’t end well for him.
However, I don’t think it will come to that. Despite the rich people supporting Trump now, government anarchy is generally bad for business. Methinks that more scandals are on their way (Epstein comes to mind), and combining that with the current state of the economy will be favorable for a blue wave. He can’t stop it. His best bet would be to fake a health scare and retire with some dignity. But he won’t do that.
Pushing big business out of the picture doesn’t help the poverty stricken. It just produces more poor people through unemployment. All of New York, through the arts, education, tourism, social welfare and charitable fundraising, benefits from big business. And when those big businesses move out of New York and are listed on another country’s stock exchange, then New York is in really serious trouble!
I agree with your points to a certain extent but big business must also pay their fair share in taxes and not just keep all the money for itself.
“Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.” – Clement Attlee
It looks like women are rising in US politics, looking at Virginia and New Jersey elections too. It’s bad news for Trump. Mamdani himself is a nightmare for him. Mamdani’s chart looks positive over the coming years though he might experience some ups and downs in his government. Pluto in Aquarius is starting to flex it’s muscle, this is only the beginning of things to come in the future of US politics. There is a shift in energy. More and more diversity. Well November was always not going to bring good news for Trump, voters are starting to reject his policies, especially on economy, also looking at the tariff’s case which is currently at the Supreme Court, legally it might be ruled against him, which is going to be a big blow. On the positive side the case will result in the opening of government.
Plus:
Gov shut downs and unpaid air traffic controllers = decreasing flights on Holiday Eve.
Air Force one only has so many seats.
ZM was polishing his script as newsrooms waited for him to deliver his victory speech = 3rd house Air Sun conj Scorpio Mars square Saturn.
Mars conj Mercury in Scorpio = “Turn up the volume” jab at Trump and “I hope I never utter his name again” about Cuomo.
Majorie wrote NN in hard-working 6th house trines frivolous indulgent Jupiter Venus. After victory nights zealous display I see the Zues-like side of Jupiter to his work loving node.
Reading abt the intense & detached effect of his Aquarius Moon squaring Pluto gave me some comfort he isn’t actually as amped up as he appeared . But I suspect most of his adversaries aren’t gleaning Star4Cast wisdom – and intensity w a cool head can also feel quite cunning/adversarial.
I recall recently reading that you’d written about women in power with Neptune’s entry into Aries.
This would appear to fit last night’s wins by 2 women to the governorship; I also couldn’t help noticing that they are both women who were once in the military (Aries), Sherrill in the Navy, Spanberger a former intelligence officer
Zohran’s newlywed wife is a mere 28!!
NYC hasn’t had any very married mayors in quite some time. In purely selfish terms I’d love to see how the state of their union looks for the next four years.
DeBlasio who was the mayor before Adams was married with two children.
Mamdami has Neptune conjunct Scheat in his election chart which has not proved to be a particularly auspicious placement as the UK Labour government can testify. It is inconjunct his natal Mars which suggests he may have difficulties in focusing his energies once in office.
The retrograde Uranus at 0 Gemini opposition to Mars at 0 Sagittarius is quite volatile too.
The fact the election Uranus is inconjunct his natal Mars wont help. He will be inspired to try and force through his political plans but is likely to generate a lot of friction and perhaps create a certain amount of chaos.
The election Jupiter is in Mamdamis natal 12th house square his 3rd house Sun which can generate overconfidence and perhaps a tendency to overestimate ones abilities. It may be a a hidden source of vulnerability. The trine between the election Uranus and his natal Saturn suggests he will enjoy success if he tries to bring change within the rules and limits of his office. If he oversteps those boundaries then he may find things will fall apart
Marjorie,
Since you’ve written about Zohran Mamdani making history, Would you mind doing a write up about Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi too?
Spanberger and Hashmi’s victories in Virginia were just as (if not more)significant than Mamdani’s. Spanberger is the first woman elected to be governor in Virginia and Ghazala Hashmi is the first South Asian (Indian) and Muslim woman to be elected Lt. Governor of Virginia. In other words, these two women will be representing the whole state (and a very important state at that).
I wish them well. Virginia made the right choices!
I had read your first post on him- it was this but less fleshed out- he’ll win but then can’t get his agenda through type thing. But in many like Obama he represents more than just his accomplishments- his win says to trump- warning- we don’t like you so much well vote for this guy who sold us the economic relief agenda. And to the dem party which is stuck in the mindset of hold the course this will all
Blow over meanwhile the democracy is destroyed- we will ignore what you tell us to do and who you tell us to be and chart a new path.
So even if his dreams are impossible to actualize he represents something.
A bonafide immigrant claiming victory is magnificent – and no doubt an unsettling message has been sent to, and most definitely heard by, the powers that be.
But big cities don’t run on dreams and I loathe to think his biggest accomplishment would be winning.I have to hope the Progressed Moon moving through his 10th plus his 6th house workwhile Node will steer him right. And by the time the moon exits, he has learned how to manage the landscape AND himself.
Thanks, Marjorie, as always for your insights. In terms of making promises that he can’t keep, Zohran Mamdani isn’t alone. Remember how Trump promised to build a giant wall between the U.S. and Mexico and have Mexico pay for it? I don’t know that much about composite charts and location. I use the midpoint method. But I’m not sure having London as the location of the composites between Mamdani and New York City and Mamdani and Donald Trump is the best option. If I had to choose a location for these composites, it would be New York City. Just a thought, not a criticism by any means.
An encouraging note is that he’s named a highly experienced team with deep NYC governmental experience, led by women who served in the previous Bloomberg, DeBlasio and Adams administrations. It sounds as if he’s making good, experienced choices to staff his leadership team and balance out his lack of government experience.
I would also appreciate a look at Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi. I’m a native Virginian and adopted Californian. I worked in the campaign of the last woman to run for Virginia governor, the highly qualified Democratic Attorney General Mary Sue Terry. She was pilloried by sexist, ugly and vicious rumors, leading to a wipe-out by a right-wing Republican with Nazi-like supporters. That was 1993. I’m not surprised it took so long for Virginia to elect a woman governor. In the ’90s my political friends and I would joke that Virginia still hadn’t entered the 20th century.
It is not actually set for London. It just says that since the software needs to put something in the location box. The composite is a half way point between two Ascendants and Midheavens of individual charts set for their birth locations.
I am grateful that s l o w l y here in the U.S., “Muslim” is not automatically assumed to imply terrorist.
At least for me, I now equate Muslim with a culture or geographic area where a young adult can trace their family to.
I frankly do not care if he fails miserably as mayor. He is a truly enlightened, intelligent, helpful, considerate and in touch as far as men go. I do not believe he will fail, I believe he will help the state of New York somehow. We need enlightened humans at the helm, in order to take us into tomorrow.
I’m old school, I stick with the original natal birth chart to form my impressions. His chart reminds me of someone else I know in my actual life. This person is an incredible human also, Chiron rising, heavy planets at the IC…
I like Zohran’s chart. I love how a nerdy smart kid with dark ethnic features, is so lively and lovable. God bless him, and keep him safe. He is four years older than my son. I love people born in the 1990’s. Those Capricorn planets and placements. Responsible. We need a fresh perspective to greet the future. Our young people, definitely need help and guidance. We are failing those born after 2000. Life and prospects can be very bleak for them, and they comprise a huge portion of our nation’s 6th house everyday employment. Instead, our young adults are treated like chattel from out of touch, elite oligarch enablers who could not care less for the realistic needs of young people.
His New York relocation Chart has Mars, Mercury and Pluto in Scorpio in the 7th house of partnership and open enemies – Fire, Air and Water, without Earth? His Ascendant is ruled by Mars in Scorpio, Fire and Water – quite steamy then. A person with this combination, is someone who can get very emotionally worked up or work up others and blow. Plus his Air Sun and Water Pluto straddling his Descendant. Meaning the 7th house could also boil up, if not managed. Pluto will be the dominant of that Sun/Pluto conjunction has Pluto is in its own domain, with the Sun in the house of daily work health. This could mean he has good intentions, yet his temperament may get the better of him, along with some strong opposition! A quick calculation put his Sun/Jupiter midpoint circa 1 degree of Libra, trine his Aquarian Saturn, which could be tricky as he may have some lofty idealisms, what may be just hot air. As Saturn rules Capricorn, where his Uranus/Neptune conjunction midpoint falls close to his North Node. Perhaps he really may struggle to give form to his new wave thinking? Given his planetary stellium in Scorpio/Water with his Saturn/ Capricorn dreamy radicalism Neptune/Uranus future world, he may just end up being bogged down?
So much to parse Helen.
I will be revisiting this page more than I like to imagine.
Thanks for this Marjorie. Very interested to see the beginning of Millenials (Uranus/Neptune in Capricorn + Pluto in Scorpio lot) taking on high profile political positions across the world as Baby Boomers cling on and naturally soon depart. There is going to be a subsequent clash with Gen X’ers and how to respond to a shifting world.
Ouch – this old baby boomer sees it in a different light, even if my eyesight has dimmed . Pluto maybe transiting Aquarius. Yet the Neptune/Uranus conjunction is in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. It really will depend where individuals Saturn is and its strength.. The above charts has a lot of water in it, with Pluto in its own sign. Mud slinging maybe the only power for some.
It’s not a knock to the Baby Boomer generation as a whole, having noticed some great bastions of the generation have departed recently (Ozzy Osbourne, Diane Keaton, David Lynch). It does feel we are closing down on this generations ‘vision’ of the future and their choices seem to be up for critique or review.
Millenials are a cynical generation at having never quite achieving the lifestyle abundance of previous post-war generations – I can admit this happily! However they are less nihilistic than their Gen Z counterparts. So it will be interesting to see how they attempt to assert their vision of the world in these high profile roles.
Could our birth charts be looked at as our Planetary DNA? The outer planets as a collective challenge first each generation? With each generation having to confront a task? Gen Z or whatever name is given to an emerging generation has a designated task. I admit the Baby Boomers have had a wealthy time. We benefited from a choice of jobs and housing, as many western countries had to rebuild after a major war. Yet were are all connected, via our individual family DNA too – a continuity. Your generation carries the baby boomers DNA. The planets just present different scenarios.
Wonderful result, NYC! Gives some much needed hope.
Absolutely!
Also thrilled by the Women Power in New Jersey & Virginia!
And the high voter turnout in NYC and in California (although as reported, no one was on the ballot in Cali, just the Prop).
Interesting with Pluto transiting Saturn on the descendant there. Thanks Marjorie. Great to have some good news for a change.
Thank you for this Marjorie. What does his relationship with Governor Hochul look like? She ultimately endorsed him but spoke out against raising taxes which he wants to do to pay for his programs. There are state and local taxes, and her power / authority in this matter tends to be higher than his for the most part. And as she is (likely) facing a primary challenge then general election next year and is reliant on the NYC vote, she will have to navigate taxing her donor base vs. coming across as out of touch with his supporters. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Once again Dems won in spite of the white voters. People of color voting (and in some cases, young women in general) was the decisive factor which again shows that they heard, understood and resonated with the Dem messaging. Hope Dems finally stop chasing after these white voters who will never return back to the party. And Mamdani is pro trans rights. Many battles won but the war still rages.
Apparently Young Women carried this one!