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New York mayoral candidate, State Assemblymember. Zohran Mamdani (D-36) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City.
The lesson learned from Mamdani’s success is that voters want strong policy positions that will actually produce change.
Thirty-three year old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory over scandal-ridden and disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo paves the way for a future apart from tired Democratic establishment rhetoric, giving Americans hope for the left after the election of President Donald Trump.
Cuomo was the darling of the corporate PACs, who have held the Democratic Party in a stranglehold for decades; he was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, funded by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and took money from Republican-backed super PACs. His campaign strategy rested entirely on name recognition rather than grassroots organizing that connects with everyday New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s campaign was the opposite of all of that: He started out polling 1% in February with little funding, being a relatively unknown state assemblymember. His campaign was truly a grassroots effort—being outspent multiple times over by Cuomo, Mamdani relied upon an army of tens of thousands of volunteers who spent months leafleting and knocking on doors.
For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
Since Trump’s election, establishment Democrats have suggested a number of ideas for how to win back the country, attempting to recapture the working class who have been ignored by both parties. Suggestions include Rep. Seth Moulton’s (D-Mass.) to throw trans people under the bus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s to reach out to far-right commentators like Charlie Kirk, and James Carville’s idea that Democrats should “play dead.” Mamdani’s election was voting Democrats rejecting all those ideas in favor of an aggressive and progressive platform to resist Trump.
Mamdani’s lack of seniority, both in age and years in office, represent a crack opening in the gerontocracy and nepotism in American politics. Cuomo represents the ways of the past. He’s not just an elderly lifelong politician, but the son of a former governor. Mamdani’s nomination signals that the Democratic Party is hungry for new leadership with fresh ideas. However, a fresh face can also sometimes be a Trojan Horse for old and tired ideas.
One such case is Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), the young Massachusetts congressman with ambitions for higher office who may seem promising because of his age and supposed charm, but is no more than a vessel for the same old neoliberal order that got us in this mess. Auchincloss and others have promoted the “abundance movement”—basically a repackaging of neoliberal ideas under a new banner. What separates Mamdani from Auchincloss is that Mamdani is more than a pretty face with “refreshing” words; he is an authentic populist in the best sense of the word, with bold policies garnering mass appeal.
Mamdani’s plan to make buses fast and free, freeze the rent, and make childcare universal deeply resonates with New Yorkers facing a crippling affordability crisis. Mamdani’s policies are widely popular, but you would never see them come out of the mouths of politicians like Cuomo and Auchincloss whose corporate backers have them on a leash. Because he couldn’t compete with Mamdani on policies that improve the lives of New York City’s residents, Cuomo tried making the race about something thousands of miles away.
Cuomo tried to use Mamdani’s principled support for Palestinian human rights as a weapon against him, as if calling for equal rights between Israelis and Palestinians is a scandal equivalent to Cuomo’s harassing 13 women. Ironically, one of Cuomo’s ads accusing Mamdani of antisemitism was blatantly Islamophobic, depicting Mamdani’s beard edited to appear darker and thicker. The media joined forces with Cuomo in a debate by singling out Mamdani with a question on where the candidates’ first foreign trip as mayor would be. Cuomo and three other candidates said Israel, while Mamdani stated he would stay in New York City to address city issues. The moderators then jumped on Mamdani, questioning him on “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state,” to which he replied that he believes it has the right to exist “as a state with equal rights,” an idea unacceptable to an unapologetic supporter of Israel’s racist policies like Cuomo.
What Cuomo fails to understand is that the issues most relevant to Jewish New Yorkers are the same issues important to all New Yorkers. The real antisemitism in this race is Cuomo’s belief that New York City Jews care more about Israel than their fellow New Yorkers.
Mamdani was endorsed by a number of Jewish organizations and prominent Jewish individuals including Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); and his fellow candidate and highest-ranking Jewish official in the city, Brad Lander. Hopefully the lesson learned from Mamdani’s victory is that voters want strong policy positions that will actually produce change, and that will embolden other Democrats to adapt some of the messages and policies central to his campaign. For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
For Mamdani, his race for mayor is not yet over. In the general election he faces off with corrupt incumbent Mayor Eric Adams who is running as an independent and the Republican nominee, right-wing vigilante Curtis Sliwa. There is a possibility that Cuomo will also run as an independent, but his concession in the primary likely means he has given up his bid for mayor.
The failure of Cuomo’s bid is a signal to establishment Democrats across the country that their voters no longer tolerate support for Israel or buy into the allegations of antisemitism thrown at anyone who opposes Israel’s policies.
In these difficult times where we are facing a potential new forever war in the Middle East, the immoral kidnappings of immigrants, and increased repression of our movements, this seemingly underdog victory in New York City is a beacon of hope for all us who still believe a better world is possible.
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Thirty-three year old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory over scandal-ridden and disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo paves the way for a future apart from tired Democratic establishment rhetoric, giving Americans hope for the left after the election of President Donald Trump.
Cuomo was the darling of the corporate PACs, who have held the Democratic Party in a stranglehold for decades; he was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, funded by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and took money from Republican-backed super PACs. His campaign strategy rested entirely on name recognition rather than grassroots organizing that connects with everyday New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s campaign was the opposite of all of that: He started out polling 1% in February with little funding, being a relatively unknown state assemblymember. His campaign was truly a grassroots effort—being outspent multiple times over by Cuomo, Mamdani relied upon an army of tens of thousands of volunteers who spent months leafleting and knocking on doors.
For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
Since Trump’s election, establishment Democrats have suggested a number of ideas for how to win back the country, attempting to recapture the working class who have been ignored by both parties. Suggestions include Rep. Seth Moulton’s (D-Mass.) to throw trans people under the bus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s to reach out to far-right commentators like Charlie Kirk, and James Carville’s idea that Democrats should “play dead.” Mamdani’s election was voting Democrats rejecting all those ideas in favor of an aggressive and progressive platform to resist Trump.
Mamdani’s lack of seniority, both in age and years in office, represent a crack opening in the gerontocracy and nepotism in American politics. Cuomo represents the ways of the past. He’s not just an elderly lifelong politician, but the son of a former governor. Mamdani’s nomination signals that the Democratic Party is hungry for new leadership with fresh ideas. However, a fresh face can also sometimes be a Trojan Horse for old and tired ideas.
One such case is Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), the young Massachusetts congressman with ambitions for higher office who may seem promising because of his age and supposed charm, but is no more than a vessel for the same old neoliberal order that got us in this mess. Auchincloss and others have promoted the “abundance movement”—basically a repackaging of neoliberal ideas under a new banner. What separates Mamdani from Auchincloss is that Mamdani is more than a pretty face with “refreshing” words; he is an authentic populist in the best sense of the word, with bold policies garnering mass appeal.
Mamdani’s plan to make buses fast and free, freeze the rent, and make childcare universal deeply resonates with New Yorkers facing a crippling affordability crisis. Mamdani’s policies are widely popular, but you would never see them come out of the mouths of politicians like Cuomo and Auchincloss whose corporate backers have them on a leash. Because he couldn’t compete with Mamdani on policies that improve the lives of New York City’s residents, Cuomo tried making the race about something thousands of miles away.
Cuomo tried to use Mamdani’s principled support for Palestinian human rights as a weapon against him, as if calling for equal rights between Israelis and Palestinians is a scandal equivalent to Cuomo’s harassing 13 women. Ironically, one of Cuomo’s ads accusing Mamdani of antisemitism was blatantly Islamophobic, depicting Mamdani’s beard edited to appear darker and thicker. The media joined forces with Cuomo in a debate by singling out Mamdani with a question on where the candidates’ first foreign trip as mayor would be. Cuomo and three other candidates said Israel, while Mamdani stated he would stay in New York City to address city issues. The moderators then jumped on Mamdani, questioning him on “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state,” to which he replied that he believes it has the right to exist “as a state with equal rights,” an idea unacceptable to an unapologetic supporter of Israel’s racist policies like Cuomo.
What Cuomo fails to understand is that the issues most relevant to Jewish New Yorkers are the same issues important to all New Yorkers. The real antisemitism in this race is Cuomo’s belief that New York City Jews care more about Israel than their fellow New Yorkers.
Mamdani was endorsed by a number of Jewish organizations and prominent Jewish individuals including Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); and his fellow candidate and highest-ranking Jewish official in the city, Brad Lander. Hopefully the lesson learned from Mamdani’s victory is that voters want strong policy positions that will actually produce change, and that will embolden other Democrats to adapt some of the messages and policies central to his campaign. For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
For Mamdani, his race for mayor is not yet over. In the general election he faces off with corrupt incumbent Mayor Eric Adams who is running as an independent and the Republican nominee, right-wing vigilante Curtis Sliwa. There is a possibility that Cuomo will also run as an independent, but his concession in the primary likely means he has given up his bid for mayor.
The failure of Cuomo’s bid is a signal to establishment Democrats across the country that their voters no longer tolerate support for Israel or buy into the allegations of antisemitism thrown at anyone who opposes Israel’s policies.
In these difficult times where we are facing a potential new forever war in the Middle East, the immoral kidnappings of immigrants, and increased repression of our movements, this seemingly underdog victory in New York City is a beacon of hope for all us who still believe a better world is possible.
Thirty-three year old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory over scandal-ridden and disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo paves the way for a future apart from tired Democratic establishment rhetoric, giving Americans hope for the left after the election of President Donald Trump.
Cuomo was the darling of the corporate PACs, who have held the Democratic Party in a stranglehold for decades; he was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, funded by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and took money from Republican-backed super PACs. His campaign strategy rested entirely on name recognition rather than grassroots organizing that connects with everyday New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s campaign was the opposite of all of that: He started out polling 1% in February with little funding, being a relatively unknown state assemblymember. His campaign was truly a grassroots effort—being outspent multiple times over by Cuomo, Mamdani relied upon an army of tens of thousands of volunteers who spent months leafleting and knocking on doors.
For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
Since Trump’s election, establishment Democrats have suggested a number of ideas for how to win back the country, attempting to recapture the working class who have been ignored by both parties. Suggestions include Rep. Seth Moulton’s (D-Mass.) to throw trans people under the bus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s to reach out to far-right commentators like Charlie Kirk, and James Carville’s idea that Democrats should “play dead.” Mamdani’s election was voting Democrats rejecting all those ideas in favor of an aggressive and progressive platform to resist Trump.
Mamdani’s lack of seniority, both in age and years in office, represent a crack opening in the gerontocracy and nepotism in American politics. Cuomo represents the ways of the past. He’s not just an elderly lifelong politician, but the son of a former governor. Mamdani’s nomination signals that the Democratic Party is hungry for new leadership with fresh ideas. However, a fresh face can also sometimes be a Trojan Horse for old and tired ideas.
One such case is Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), the young Massachusetts congressman with ambitions for higher office who may seem promising because of his age and supposed charm, but is no more than a vessel for the same old neoliberal order that got us in this mess. Auchincloss and others have promoted the “abundance movement”—basically a repackaging of neoliberal ideas under a new banner. What separates Mamdani from Auchincloss is that Mamdani is more than a pretty face with “refreshing” words; he is an authentic populist in the best sense of the word, with bold policies garnering mass appeal.
Mamdani’s plan to make buses fast and free, freeze the rent, and make childcare universal deeply resonates with New Yorkers facing a crippling affordability crisis. Mamdani’s policies are widely popular, but you would never see them come out of the mouths of politicians like Cuomo and Auchincloss whose corporate backers have them on a leash. Because he couldn’t compete with Mamdani on policies that improve the lives of New York City’s residents, Cuomo tried making the race about something thousands of miles away.
Cuomo tried to use Mamdani’s principled support for Palestinian human rights as a weapon against him, as if calling for equal rights between Israelis and Palestinians is a scandal equivalent to Cuomo’s harassing 13 women. Ironically, one of Cuomo’s ads accusing Mamdani of antisemitism was blatantly Islamophobic, depicting Mamdani’s beard edited to appear darker and thicker. The media joined forces with Cuomo in a debate by singling out Mamdani with a question on where the candidates’ first foreign trip as mayor would be. Cuomo and three other candidates said Israel, while Mamdani stated he would stay in New York City to address city issues. The moderators then jumped on Mamdani, questioning him on “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state,” to which he replied that he believes it has the right to exist “as a state with equal rights,” an idea unacceptable to an unapologetic supporter of Israel’s racist policies like Cuomo.
What Cuomo fails to understand is that the issues most relevant to Jewish New Yorkers are the same issues important to all New Yorkers. The real antisemitism in this race is Cuomo’s belief that New York City Jews care more about Israel than their fellow New Yorkers.
Mamdani was endorsed by a number of Jewish organizations and prominent Jewish individuals including Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); and his fellow candidate and highest-ranking Jewish official in the city, Brad Lander. Hopefully the lesson learned from Mamdani’s victory is that voters want strong policy positions that will actually produce change, and that will embolden other Democrats to adapt some of the messages and policies central to his campaign. For the Democrats who will continue to stick to the line of their corporate sponsors: Watch out for progressives like Mamdani who are coming to challenge you.
For Mamdani, his race for mayor is not yet over. In the general election he faces off with corrupt incumbent Mayor Eric Adams who is running as an independent and the Republican nominee, right-wing vigilante Curtis Sliwa. There is a possibility that Cuomo will also run as an independent, but his concession in the primary likely means he has given up his bid for mayor.
The failure of Cuomo’s bid is a signal to establishment Democrats across the country that their voters no longer tolerate support for Israel or buy into the allegations of antisemitism thrown at anyone who opposes Israel’s policies.
In these difficult times where we are facing a potential new forever war in the Middle East, the immoral kidnappings of immigrants, and increased repression of our movements, this seemingly underdog victory in New York City is a beacon of hope for all us who still believe a better world is possible.
