Who is Maya Handa? The campaign manager behind Zohran Mamdani’s historic NYC mayoral victory

Maya Handa, a seasoned progressive campaign strategist, played a defining role in Zohran Mamdani’s unprecedented rise to become New York City’s first South Asian and Muslim mayor. Appointed campaign manager in July 2025, Handa transformed an underdog bid into a disciplined, citywide movement through sharp strategy, grassroots mobilisation, and message clarity that resonated across New York’s diverse electorate.