Meet Zara Rahim, the 35-year-old with a stacked resume who masterminded Zohran Mamdani's winning mayoral campaign | Fortune

"When Zohran Mamdani stunned New York City's political establishment by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and winning the mayoral election last week, much of the attention focused on his viral social media presence and charismatic appeal to young voters. But behind the 34-year-old assemblyman's historic victory was a strategic mind who helped reshape how the campaign connected with voters: Zara Rahim, a communications expert who has spent more than a decade at the intersection of politics, culture and digital strategy."

"Rahim, who has served as a senior adviser to Mamdani since February, delivered a crucial piece of guidance that would define the campaign's approach. As one adviser told the New York Times last summer, Rahim urged Mamdani to "forget the New York conjured by political strategists" and instead "make a campaign about the actual New York City." That directive became the foundation for a grassroots operation that mobilized more than 90,000 volunteers and engaged voters who had long been overlooked by the city's political elite."

"The 35-year-old strategist brought an unusual pedigree to the mayoral race. A first-generation Bangladeshi American raised in South Florida, Rahim began her political career as an intern on Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, where she was promoted to Florida Digital Content Director. That role, which involved registering voters and educating them about key issues through digital platforms, taught her how to leverage social media for political organizing. She went on to work in the White House Office of Digital Strategy before joining Uber, where she helped craft legislation on ride-sharing."

Zara Rahim designed a grassroots, digital-first strategy that helped Zohran Mamdani defeat Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and win the New York City mayoral election. Rahim urged Mamdani to "forget the New York conjured by political strategists" and to make the campaign about actual New York City neighborhoods, producing a volunteer operation of more than 90,000 people and outreach to historically overlooked voters. Rahim is a 35-year-old first-generation Bangladeshi American who began on Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, served in the White House Office of Digital Strategy, worked at Uber on ride-sharing policy, and served as Communications Director at Vogue.

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