It’s Zohran Mamdani’s time. After a historic grassroots run that saw over 50,000 New Yorkers sign up to volunteer for his campaign, the 33-year-old assemblyman won the city’s Democratic mayoral primary this week in a landslide, beating out an incredibly well-funded former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani’s campaign leaned into people power, community, and his status as the rare political figure who actually seems like a guy you could run into on the subway (it certainly helps that he’s lived in the city—not Westchester—since he was seven years old). His attire played right into this feeling. Mamdami didn’t go full John Fetterman and take to the campaign trail in hoodies and shorts, but his fits have broken from the standard navy suit most public servants stick to. Mamdani mixes suit separates, rocks fun ties and button-down collars, and generally dresses like a guy who came of age during the late-aughts J. Crew era—it’s a millennial wardrobe for a true millennial candidate. Throughout the campaign, Mamdani also stuck to a watch that stands out in a sea of politicians sporting generic leather-strap dress watches.
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Mamdani’s timepiece of choice is the Casio A1000MA-7VT, a simple digital watch elevated by a cool beaded bracelet. It first dropped in 2022 as part of the brand’s Vintage Iconic collection, which provides sturdy updates to Casio’s signature digital watches. The A1000MA-7VT features a stainless steel case and mineral crystals rather than acrylic. It’s also slimmer and sleeker than some of the brand’s chunkier options, meaning it fits well under the sleeve of Mamdani’s dress shirts. This is thanks to a smaller battery than standard Casio models and a premium 3479 movement (or modules, as Casio calls them).
The watch feels deeply aligned with Mamdani’s campaign, values, and personality. For one, this wasn’t a calculated aesthetic ploy for a campaign. Mamdani’s been wearing this Casio for years—you can even spot it in his wedding photos. Digital watches are a quirky alternative to traditional analog ones, especially among politicians. They’re fun, a little bit nerdy, a little bit stylish, and entirely unpretentious. These watches are also an affordable option, retailing for a breezy $160, which is high-end for a Casio but a steal in the wider world of watches. It’s a lot easier to relate to a mayoral candidate whose watch doesn’t cost the same as three months’ rent for a Brooklyn one-bedroom. “I got quite excited when I saw the photo of him rocking the Casio,” says menswear content creator and Casio enthusiast Hamza Abou Ammo. “It’s the working man’s Rolex. It’s a timeless watch, no pun intended, and very accessible. I wear mine with everything and have done so for over six years.”
Watches have long been potent symbols for politicians. Presidents like Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and Lyndon Johnson all wore the Vulcain Cricket. The watch was famous for its alarm feature, which signaled these were busy men with rigid schedules and appointments to make. Ironically, it was Bill Clinton, a late Cuomo endorser, who famously wore a humble digital watch like Mamdani’s during his presidential run. The former POTUS’s Timex Ironman Triathlon 8 Lap signaled his everyman status. (Some observers still trashed the choice). Later, even incredibly wealthy candidates like Mitt Romney wore cheap timepieces. What makes Mamdani’s Casio special is that his choice feels like a genuine expression of his taste rather than an attempt to appear down-to-earth.
Those looking to cop a Casio A1000MA-7VT of their own may need to go through alternative retailers to do so—it quickly sold out via Casio’s website after some eagle-eyed Twitter users identified it on Mamdani. A few stores, like Dover Street Market, still have them in stock, though. Mamdani has a long road ahead of him between now and the November election. Lucky for him, he’s got the perfect watch to keep him on pace.
