With the midterms just six weeks away, you would think that I would do a birth chart reading on one or more of the candidates. I did consider it, but many of the candidates don’t have a verified birth time. In such contentious times, I thought I would examine someone who is not currently up for election nor could be considered for president in 2028.
When it comes to notoriety, the new(ish) mayor Zohran Mamdani is well known beyond New York City, unlike Orlando’s mayor Buddy Dyer, who has been in office since 2003. But trying to find Mamdani’s approval rating is complex. He seems to be highly regarded in Brooklyn and Manhattan but has a high disapproval rate in Staten Island. Polls have a wide variance, so it is hard to pinpoint New Yorkers’ approval of their mayor.
Regardless of polls, Mamdani makes headlines. Before we get into why, let’s cover the logistics. Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, at 1:15 AM in Kampala, Uganda. The source of his birth time is his mother, resulting in a Rodden rating of A. Usually, I am skeptical of birth times from memory; however, Mamdani’s mother is Punjabi Hindu, a group of people who tend to embrace Vedic astrology, with many acutely aware of the time of birth. For this article, I am sticking with the 1:15 AM time.
This makes Mamdani a Leo rising. Leo risings tend to have a magnetic personality, a tendency to draw people in. Much of this has to do with their 11th house being in the sign of Gemini and the 10th house in the sign of Taurus. Having a reputation of comfort, values and status and being able to communicate succinct ideas is part of the Leo rising M.O. Being ruled by the Sun, a Leo rising person tends to shine and get noticed.
However, what makes Mamdani a little different than many politicians is that most of his placements are below the horizon. Granted, he is not the only politician with a lack of above-the-horizon placements. His energy lies more with what is happening around him and his locality, instead of on the national scene.
The way I practice astrology, I put the most emphasis on chart aspects. I find that they give us the core of the personality, showing us how the person thinks and feels their way through life.
Aspects in the Natal Chart
Mamdani has his Sun in the sign of Libra, residing in the third house of communication, everyday ideas and the neighborhood. This alone shows an appreciation for his local community.
Sun in Libra in the 3rd House of Community and Communication
His Libra Sun 24° is in trine to his Aquarius Moon 17° in the seventh house of partnerships. The orb between the two planets is wide, but people with this trine tend to have a sense of inner peace and balance. This has to do with the fact that their outward projection of who they are is tied to their own inner world, and vice versa. This aspect allows the native to live their life both through their emotions and intellect, harmoniously evaluating circumstances through feeling and analysis.
Another characteristic about people with a Sun-Moon trine is that they tend to learn about themselves while helping others to get to know themselves. This naturally draws others to the person because both parties feel like they got something out of the interaction.
His Libra sun is in fall. The Sun likes to be bold and daring, while Libra energy likes to be harmonious and balanced. Sometimes those with a Libra Sun are considered to be feckless or indecisive, because there is more concern with cooperating than with having a sense of purpose.
However, Mamdani has his two malefic planets in their domicile and they are making aspects to his Sun. This curbs the indolence that can happen at times with Libra suns.
Mamdani has an out-of-sign conjunction between his Sun and Scorpio Mars. This conjunction gives him a high level of energy to strategically get things done. Due to his bursts of energy, he may at times have conflict with others, but due to his Libra and Scorpio energy here, he is aware of how to appease while getting his way. Typically, this is a good aspect for working alone, and Mamdani may need to take time to think through situations first before acting.
Saturn also tempers his disposition. With Saturn in Aquarius square to his Libra Sun, he is learning how to balance his duties and responsibilities for others with his own needs. Saturn can restrict him in his outward expression and he may feel like he is being blocked. At times, he could have difficulty with authority figures. Though this is a hard aspect, its purpose is to learn how to gain confidence through diligence and experience.
Moon in Aquarius in the 7th House of Relationships
Besides his Sun trine Moon aspect, Mamdani has his Aquarius Moon square to his Scorpio Pluto. This is a great aspect for emotional self-analysis. There is a propensity for giving into sudden urges or impulses with this square. This aspect is also great at creating emotional responses from others (something often used in politics) or being the victim of other people’s emotions.
Mercury in Scorpio in the 4th House of Foundations, Home and Family
Mamdani’s Mercury is in peregrine (neither debility nor dignity) and has aspects to both the benefic and malefic planets in his chart. Also, his Mercury is in aspect to his ascendant and midheaven. Immediately, we know with his Scorpio Mercury his approach with his thinking and communication is to get to the root of every subject or issue.
With his Mercury in sextile to his Venus in Virgo, he has the ability to express his feelings. His Venus is in its fall, and in the second house of personal values. Mercury is the dispositor of his Venus, so his thoughts are entangled with his values, and he probably has discriminating taste when it comes to art and music.
He most likely enjoys chatting with friends or engaging in leisure activities, but with the Scorpio and Virgo energy, his conversation may be about troubleshooting issues and coming up with solutions, even when he is relaxing.
And part of this has to do with his Mercury also being in sextile to Jupiter in Scorpio. Mamdani naturally pays attention to the larger issues of life. He has foresight and a desire to fulfill his hopes. He can see large patterns and how systems relate to each other. This is a good aspect for understanding the law and contracts and the philosophy behind them.
His Mercury is conjunct to his Mars in Scorpio, which is in its domicile. This conjunction gives Mamdani the ability to do taxing mental work over a long time period. He could be intellectually competitive and probably enjoys a good debate. However, this is an aspect that can have someone take themselves too seriously at times, especially when they are stressed or overwhelmed.
The Mercury-Mars conjunction is in his fourth house of home and family. He may have been keenly aware whenever there were disagreements between his parents. By his own admission, he feels he grew up in a privileged household; this aspect could make him aware of external stressors that impact all families.
Mamdani tends to be a serious and disciplined thinker, due to Mercury in square to his Saturn in Aquarius. This aspect is about having high standards, since Saturn tends to point out faults, especially since it is in its domicile sign of Aquarius. This square excels at finding issues, while others may interpret this as criticism instead of constructive feedback. Mamdani may also struggle with receiving criticism.
With Mamdani’s Mercury Square Leo AC, he enjoys exchanging ideas and is eager to do so. He most likely engages in long conversations. There is a chance of him overtalking others or forgetting to allow others to speak. With Mercury, he has a tendency to analyze others and can probably tear them apart, so if he does entertain this activity, it is best for him to keep it to himself.
Having Mercury in opposition to his Taurus MC, he thinks about his goals, objectives and personal life simultaneously. This is a subjective aspect, in which his feelings and point of view are prominent. This is a great aspect for real estate deals, whether that is for his own home or in regard to housing for others.
When I put all of his aspects together, Mamdani is a serious thinker who takes into consideration his values while being able to delve into the root cause of issues, seeking solutions. He can see patterns and at times, he may buck a system or bump heads with others. But at the core, he is trying to make things better, even when he interrupts others who are talking or when he feels stung by criticism.
Mars is the dispositor of his Mercury, so when decisions are made, he is going to take action to make it happen. In modern astrology, Pluto would be the dispositor of Mamdani’s Mercury. This can help him to transform thoughts into something powerful, using group resources to make it come to fruition.
Venus in Virgo in the 2nd House of Personal Values, Talent and Self-Worth
Mamdani’s benefic planets are conjunct to each other in the sign of Virgo. Mercury is the dispositor of Venus and Jupiter, which are in debility. Virgo energy is about categorizing, analyzing and being of service. Venus would prefer to create harmony and not deal with the messy stuff of life while Jupiter is driven by belief and optimism.
With Venus conjunct Jupiter, typically, we would see someone with financial luck who enjoys lavish and luxurious items. But with these planets in their fall and detriment respectively, this conjunction is toned down. Mamdani’s luck and success come more from helping others than doing for himself. The conjunction is best expressed through his values rather than buying a fancy car or playing the lottery.
He will be able to articulate his feelings, and his interactions with others tend to be warm, regardless of whether the relationship is personal or professional. If he becomes too critical, Venus and Jupiter are sure to pull in the other direction, allowing him to be productive instead of nit-picky.
Venus is trine to both his Uranus and Neptune in the sign of Capricorn. Mamdani will get bored with routine and prefers interacting with unusual or different people daily due to Uranus. With Neptune, he can have compassion for others and tune into how people feel and think.
His Venus is trine to his MC in Taurus in the 10th house. First and foremost, he will play the role of the peacemaker, realizing that he can create and instill his values into his work by creating a harmonious environment.
Mars in Scorpio in the 4th House of Foundations, Home and Family
As stated earlier, Mars and Saturn are in their domicile and Mars in Scorpio is also in exaltation.
With Mars in square to Saturn in Aquarius, success for Mamdani occurs through slow and cautious actions. For him, it is better to be strategic than fast, and to be aware of the impact he makes on individuals and those who share his world view.
With Saturn in his 7th house, it is best for him to partner with those who align with his humanitarian ideals. This doesn’t mean he can’t work with those who oppose him, but he gets more satisfaction relating to people who he feels are his social equals.
There are times, due to Saturn, when he may feel like his efforts are blocked or he could get discouraged. But since these two planets are in dignity, he most likely can find another path or resource to make things happen.
Mars is square to his AC. He may purposely work with others from different backgrounds, and when conflict happens, it will be due to a lack of compromise. With Mars in opposition to his MC, he may experience some career setbacks through his life, especially if he becomes argumentative or defensive when asserting his point of view. The best way for him to temper that is to address any problems at home first so that he is not agitated at work.
One last thing to note. Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker, and with his Scorpio Mars and Mercury in the 4th house, he keenly watched interactions and the actions of others, including those on set locations. He knows what makes people tick through his ongoing study of character, and how to gain agreement from unlikely sources. On September 21st, 2026, Mamdani hosted Trump at Gracie Mansion, and according to AP News, “Trump and Mamdani … discussed a potential housing project in the borough of Queens and how to make New York more affordable for the working class.”
Jupiter in Virgo in the 2nd House of Personal Values, Talent and Self-Worth
Jupiter plays an expansive role in Mamdani’s life, with its conjunction to Venus and sextile to Mercury. In addition, he has his Jupiter in trine to Uranus in Capricorn. This trine allows flow with various concepts and aids him in being receptive to new ideas and beliefs in a quick manner.
His Jupiter is also in trine to Neptune in Capricorn. This is a practical melding of idealism with humanitarian pursuits. The Capricorn energy in his 6th house will keep him focused on his goals and how he can serve his city. With Uranus and Neptune both being in the 6th house, he could have a propensity for working long hours, especially if what he is tackling is something unusual or aligns with his ideals.
Mamdani benefits from his Jupiter in trine to his MC. Though Mars’ opposition to his MC can cause some setbacks, overall, he has a reputation of being optimistic and confident. As long as he masters the skills of leadership, he should have success, since people tend to feel good being in his presence. However, like I mentioned earlier, he can overextend himself with too many commitments. It will be best for him to have a supportive staff that can pick up some of his work.
Saturn in Aquarius in the 7th House of Relationships
His Saturn aspects with the Sun, Mercury and Mars, which were discussed prior, show how he can tackle serious issues and work for long-term solutions.
Mamdani’s natal Saturn is in opposition to his AC. This aspect tends to lead to success as long as he doesn’t take shortcuts. It is key for him to take responsibility and ownership for his actions. He may deal with enemies in the workplace, and will have to resolve any issues with them quickly to prevent derailment of his work.
With Saturn in square to his MC, he could feel isolated at times, and may struggle between his personal needs and working for others.
Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn in the 6th House of Work, Service and Routine
His Uranus is in trine to his MC. Mamdani is currently known as the Mayor of NYC, but expect him to have career changes or different jobs throughout his life. I had no idea that he used to be a rapper and musician until working on this article. He may have other professions in his life that may not be considered a “proper” job but whatever work he does will align with the direction of his life.
He does have the Neptune-Uranus conjunction, which is seen in some of those born in the first part of the 1990s. This conjunction is about new trends or exploring spirituality in a different manner, through a practical Capricorn lens. I saw a video a few weeks ago of Mamdani wearing a helmet while riding his bike. He’d started wearing one after New Yorkers criticized him online for riding without one. Instead of resisting wearing the helmet, he is being practical and going along with a well-regarded trend.
North Node in Capricorn in the 6th House of Work, Service and Routine
Mamdani’s North Node is at 13°, sandwiched between Uranus 10° and Neptune 14° and in trine to his Jupiter-Venus conjunction in the 2nd house.
This man wants to work for his personal values and ideals, and be of service in a way that’s different from what’s been done before. There is a desire to deal with the here and now, and issues that plague others. He doesn’t go about this for personal gain but out of diligence to honor the needs of both himself and others. He has a sensible approach to problem-solving and is open to out-of-the-box ideas, as long as it is something that aids him in keeping his promises.
He may deal with being judgmental or having a hard time committing to certain actions. But overall, he has the support of Jupiter and Venus, which helps with optimism, belief and a commitment to his values and relationships.
Fixed Stars in his Natal Chart
Mamdani has four Behenian fixed stars in his chart, which just happen to be some of my personal favorite fixed stars. These stars are Sirius, Vega, Spica and Arcturus. Keep in mind that fixed stars must be in a tight conjunction to be active, and they add nuance to the chart.
The most difficult star he has is Sirius, which is conjunct to his South Node in the 12th house. Mamdani can gain more than what he expects through life, and with the 12th house, it could be that his success also causes isolation or restrictions. In some ways, the brighter he shines, the easier it is for him to suffer burnout or be burned by the institutions and structures around him.
The fixed star of Vega is conjunct to his North Node and Neptune. This is a magical star; it is creative and charismatic. With Neptune and the North Node, his ideals will lead the way with this star, imparting compassion for the people he serves.
On a side note, Vega is often associated with small animals. Mamdani’s wife wants to have a cat in their home. Ironically, Mamdani is allergic to cats and is undergoing allergy therapy for the eventual adoption of a cat to live in Gracie Mansion with the couple. In reference to his musical ability, Vega does show up in some musicians’ charts.
His Sun has a conjunction with Spica and Arcturus in the 3rd house of communication and local environment. Spica presents as being gifted, as the native will have a talent or skill that is out of the ordinary. Arcturus is the star of the pathfinder, the person who helps lead others to a better way of life or a new way of doing something. These two stars are seen with people who help to change course, and with the conjunction to his Sun, he may be one of the people who lead his constituents to a better future.
A High-Level Overview of Mamdani’s Progressed Chart
When we first look at Mamdani’s natal chart, we see that his benefic planets are debilitated. Yet, it appears he has Venus on his side, helping him build a coalition of supporters. Through the progressed chart, we can see subtle changes and get an understanding of how he’s matured.
Since I mentioned Venus, let’s talk about this placement first. Venus is still in his second house, but now it is in the sign of Libra, its domicile. This shift helps him not only to analyze his values but also to bring others into the fold, especially those who embrace the same values as Mamdani.
The reason that his Venus is in the second house with a sign change is that his ascendant is now in the sign of Virgo instead of Leo. The AC changed signs on April 16th, 2021, a couple of weeks after he participated in a “sleep-in” inside the State Capitol War Room in Albany, along with five other progressive Democratic lawmakers. The demonstration was a high-profile effort to pressure then-Governor Andrew Cuomo during state budget negotiations, including demands to increase taxes on the wealthy, create a housing relief program for renters and a relief fund for “excluded workers” who didn’t get stimulus during the pandemic. Their efforts were partially successful.
The shift of his AC into this sign of Virgo puts his Jupiter in the first house. Currently, his AC is conjunct to Jupiter in the progressed chart, and Jupiter is squared to the MC. I personally can only think of the names of a handful or two of mayors over the years. This dynamic with Jupiter expands his presence.
His Sun remains in the 3rd house but is now in the sign of Scorpio and conjunct with Mars and co-present with Pluto. This is a powerful house in his chart: the ability to transform the city with strategic action. Though this is an astrological reading and not a report card on Mamdani, some of his transformations are a rent freeze and a budget that closed the deficit gap. However, there are reports that he is struggling with criticisms, which shows up in his birth chart with his Mercury-Saturn square.
His progressed Sun is currently in opposition to his progressed Taurus Moon. Though he may not express it, he could be torn between his personal needs and his obligations. With the Moon in the 9th house, his focus is on legal, educational and cultural matters, and how to maneuver through the framework to provide stability and comfort to his constituents.
His progressed Mercury is in the sign of Sagittarius and is out of bounds. Within the progressed chart, his Mercury has no major aspects, which can help him to act upon his thoughts untethered. The drive for what he says and does is based on his beliefs and world view. He may take a different approach, such as standing in front of reporters with Trump, to compare and contrast what he says with someone else.
In the 6th house, we have his Saturn in the sign of Aquarius. His work, responsibilities and efforts are focused and diligent. His routine is to serve humanitarian ideals. His approach may be paternal, and some could feel like he is aloof or not recognizing their group. Saturn in the 6th is the workhorse.
Current Transits to Natal Chart
Mamdani will turn 35 years old on October 18th. He is still years away from his midlife transits. However, I thought it would be good to briefly look at some of his current transits.
Jupiter is currently in his first house. When Jupiter is in the first house, we tend to take on new roles and attract new experiences. We tend to have a greater sense of optimism. Transiting Jupiter is square to his natal Pluto, marking a time of reforming the environment around you.
Back on June 4th, 2025, when he was debating the other mayoral candidates, and was asked what he would do after he got elected, Mamdani said he’d stay in New York City to focus on New Yorkers. The debate occurred less than 2 weeks after Saturn entered his 9th house of law, religion and travel and was in opposition to the third house of the local community.
Currently, Saturn in retrograde is applying a square from his 9th house to his natal Uranus in the 6th house of routine and work. He is experiencing push-back from others, whether or not that is in the public, with the changes he wants to implement.
Like all of us, over the next several months, he will experience the personal planets in retrograde. Venus will go into retrograde on October 3rd and will apply a conjunction to his natal Mercury in the 4th house. Around this time, he could be reassessing his personal values and having discussions with family members. He could be thinking about the decor of Gracie Mansion.
On the 25th, Venus retrogrades into the sign of Libra and is in his third house. He may need to recommunicate his values and what he is doing for New Yorkers. With Mercury in retrograde and conjunct with his natal Pluto, this can be a tense time, when he is challenged for not taking in everyone’s feelings into consideration. With the elections around the corner, some of the criticism may not come from New Yorkers, but instead be an attempt to paint his socialistic ideals and methods of operation unfavorably.
His actions, statements, and persona will be reviewed and may be scrutinized during the Venus and Mercury retrogrades. There is a chance of information being leaked during this time, and he may have to explain to the public what happened behind the scenes. Most likely, this has something to do with the redecorations that he and his wife are doing in private living quarters.
Additional Mamdani Information
When I do a reading, I prefer not to know much about the person beforehand. Prior to writing this article, I knew he was a progressive, and I assumed he was part of the Democratic Socialists of America.
About a week ago, I learned that his mother is a filmmaker, which I found interesting. This could be one of the ways his chart ruler shows up: the Sun likes to be seen, and he appeared as an extra in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe.
I knew he grew up in New York, but I didn’t know he lived in Morningside Heights, a community surrounding Columbia University, where his father was a professor.
In regard to personal details, I have kept them scant for a few reasons. I can see much more in his charts, but when I write about public figures, I do my best to not go too deep or into matters that don’t concern the general public. I kept this reading high-level, focusing on aspects, general transits and the progressed chart with purposeful attention to his current role as mayor of NYC.
