Mayor apparent: class warrior Zohran Mamdani triumphs in New York
The victory of the 'unabashedly left-wing candidate' presents a threat for Republicans and a lesson for Democrats

America has just witnessed "one of the most significant victories by an unabashedly left-wing candidate" in its history, said Ross Barkan in New York Magazine. A few months ago, few had even heard of Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist assemblyman in New York's state legislature. But last week he won the Democratic nomination for one of the most powerful positions in US politics: mayor of New York.
He beat Andrew Cuomo, a veteran New York politician who spent vastly more on his campaign. Whereas outside fundraising groups had backed Cuomo to the tune of $25 million, Mamdani received just $1.2 million. He relied on small contributions from individual donors – the average donation was $78 – and made brilliant use of social media. The victory instantly established Mamdani as the progressives' new figurehead – and the Republicans' "great new bogeyman".
As the Democratic nominee, Mamdani is the runaway favourite to win the mayoralty in November, said National Review. That's too bad for New York, as his "pie-in-the-sky socialist agenda" – state-run grocery stores, rent controls, free buses, free childcare, all funded by taxes on the rich – is a recipe for disaster. His past support for defunding the police, and fervent criticism of Israel, are also worrying. This sort of "self-soothing progressivism" goes down well with hipsters in Brooklyn, said Carine Hajjar in The Boston Globe. But those in high-crime areas of New York won't be keen to "gamble their safety and economic well-being" so that Mamdani, the son of an Ivy League professor and a Hollywood director, can play the working-class hero.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Whether Mamdani could turn his agenda into reality is unclear, said Karen Tumulty in The Washington Post. But his victory holds important lessons for the Democrats. The main one: "candidate quality matters". Voters are fed up with being presented with "deeply flawed" candidates by the party establishment. Mamdani is charismatic and energetic; he engages with younger voters. Cuomo, by contrast, came across as "joyless" and entitled. It's barely four years since he left the governor's office in disgrace amid "credible allegations" of sexual harassment by 11 women. That Cuomo's mayoral campaign was nonetheless endorsed by a raft of party elders, including former president Bill Clinton, "speaks to a breathtaking level of cluelessness".
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
What to know about investing in ETFs
The Explainer Exchange-traded funds can be a great choice for beginners
-
15 dank Gen Z dating phrases
In Depth Knowing these neologisms can help anyone navigate the extremely online world of youth romance culture
-
Trump’s plan for a government shutdown: mass firings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As lawmakers scramble to avoid a shutdown, the White House is making plans for widespread layoffs that could lead to a permanent federal downsizing
-
Will billionaires kill France’s proposed wealth tax?
Today's Big Question In Paris, a preview of the debate over Zohran Mamdani’s NYC proposal
-
Ukraine: Trump’s latest stalling tactic
Feature Trump plans to impose sanctions on Russia only if all 31 NATO states join in and agree to ban Russian oil imports
-
Cancel culture: Now coming from the Right
Feature Conservatives are encouraging the firing of hundreds of Americans over their negative opinions on Charlie Kirk
-
Crackdown: Trump’s new blue city targets
Feature Trump has vowed to deploy the National Guard, FBI, and ICE to Memphis, naming St. Louis and New Orleans as his next targets
-
Democrats: Harris and Biden’s blame game
Feature Kamala Harris’ new memoir reveals frustrations over Biden’s reelection bid and her time as vice president
-
Tilting at windmills
Feature President Trump has long loathed wind power. Now his administration is trying to kill the industry.
-
Trump vows vengeance against the Left
Feature The Trump administration cracks down on ‘hate speech’ from the Left after the murder of Charlie Kirk