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Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for mayor, recently made headlines over his college application, where he listed himself as both “Asian” and “Black/African American.” His SAT score of 2140 out of 2400, while below the typical admitted student’s median, was reportedly higher than the median for Black students admitted to Columbia University, according to independent journalist Christopher Rufo.

The application drew scrutiny because, during 2009, Columbia University had affirmative action policies aimed at increasing diversity. Critics suggest Mamdani may have identified as Black to benefit from these policies. Mamdani explained it was due to a lack of a precise category on the application form, stating he doesn’t see himself as “African American,” but considers himself “an American born in Africa.”

The 33-year-old Queens assemblyman’s application details were leaked and reported on by a major publication, which linked to a 2009 post showing that the middle 50% of admitted students scored between 2110 and 2300 on the SAT.

Leading opponents have voiced strong criticism. Mayor Eric Adams, who is running against Mamdani in the upcoming election, called the decision to identify as Black offensive, emphasizing that the African American identity encompasses a history, struggles, and lived experiences that shouldn’t be exploited for advantage.

After being rejected from Columbia, Mamdani attended Bowdoin College in Maine. The campaign for mayor did not immediately respond to comments regarding the controversy.