Ali Najmi began practicing election law by offering services to a network of mostly insurgent candidates tied to a citywide Democratic club supporting progressive Muslims. Najmi represented Zohran Mamdani in the November general election after Mamdani surged to frontrunner status following a Democratic primary win. Najmi's career followed a classic New York trajectory from outsider to influential insider over the past decade. He has become one of the city's most prolific election lawyers, ensuring ballot access for Democrats across ideological lines, represented at least 18 candidates in the June primary, and serves as a trusted mentor to Mamdani.
When Ali Najmi started practicing election law, he offered his services as a means of survival to a network of hungry, mostly insurgent candidates connected to a citywide Democratic club dedicated to helping progressive Muslims run for local office. In November's general election, Najmi, 41, is representing Zohran Mamdani, the young Muslim Queens Assemblymember who jumped to frontrunner status in the November mayor's race after winning the Democratic primary.
Over the past decade, Najmi has risen to become one of the most prolific election lawyers in New York City, ensuring ballot access to Democrats from a wide variety of ideological stripes many of whom have different stances on certain big ticket issues. Last year, for instance, he worked for Sam Berger, an orthodox Jewish Queens Democrat who sharply criticized Mamdani's stance on Gaza.
In the June primary he represented at least 18 candidates some incumbent council members, others challengers. But with Mamdani, whose ascent in the primary surpassed almost all political polling, Najmi's relationship is not just as a hired gun. In addition to his technical services, he has been acting as a trusted mentor and advisor not a service he offers to anyone else.
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