As Zohran Mamdani makes headlines for defeating Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s primary mayoral election, his wife is also in the news. Rama Duwaji, a Syrian born American artist whose resolute presence has drawn admiration in progressive circles and groups.

Rama Duwaji, 27, is not only an illustrator but animator as well as ceramicist based in Brooklyn. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts with a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration, her work explores multiple themes including identity, belonging, and displacement. It is interesting to note that these themes deeply informed by her Syrian heritage. Her art has also taken an appearance in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE.

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Beyond her creative instincts, Duwaji has also emerged as a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. Her public solidarity with Gaza, her involvement in BDS movement, and inclusion in pro-Palestine rallies across New York has resulted in praise. She has used her art and social media platforms to speak out against Israeli aggression and highlight the plight of Palestinians, mirroring many of her husband s positions on Middle East politics.

Duwaji and Mamdani met on the dating app Hinge, drawn together by their shared love of music, politics, and social justice. The couple got engaged in Dubai, where Duwaji’s family lives, and married in a very private civil ceremony at New York’s City Clerk office earlier this year. On being cyberbullied, Mamdani later addressed political attacks on his wife, writing, “Rama isn’t just my wife — she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.”

In recent months, right-wing commentators accused Mamdani of hiding his wife from the public eye, to which the couple responded by making aspects of their relationship public, including their engagement in Dubai and their wedding details. The campaign issued a formal statement reaffirming that Duwaji, while proud to stand by her husband, is a professional in her own right and not a political accessory.

As Mamdani continues his journey toward the mayor’s office, Rama Duwaji is likely to remain a culturally significant and independent voice, shaping not just conversations about art and identity, but also the political imagination of progressive New Yorkers.