- Mamdani’s win brought New York into the centre of national debate in the US, with almost two million New Yorkers casting their ballots, marking the highest voter turnout in the last fifty years.
- The NY mayoral election gained significance as the city hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel, while Mamdani has been critical of Israel and has openly declared support for Palestinian causes.
- Many have commented that Mamdani speaks the language of liberty, simple, emotional, and moralistic, yet behind that language lies a rejection of modern individuality and the substitution of a divine mindset.
- Mamdani’s support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel and his defence of the “Globalise the Intifada” slogan have drawn heavy criticism.
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the New York mayoral election, making him the youngest elected mayor in New York’s history and the first Muslim of South Asian origin to hold the post. In his race for the mayoral election, he went on to defeat former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had served as governor of New York from 2011 to 2021, and also defeated Curtis Sliwa.
This election was special. Though it was limited to New York City, it made not only national but also international headlines because of what was happening behind the scenes. The Trump administration was not in favour of Mamdani’s victory, calling him a Communist due to political differences and ideological clashes.
However, what drew major attention were the promises and resolutions Mamdani put forward. His win brought New York into the centre of national debate, with almost two million New Yorkers casting their ballots, marking the highest voter turnout in the last fifty years.
Who is Zohran Mandani?
Mamdani was born in Uganda and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He identifies himself as a democratic socialist, advocating for universal childcare, tuition-free public colleges, fare-free public transit, rent freezes, elder care, and other socialist measures. These ideas have made him a major talking point, as the Trump administration has been strongly opposed to socialist policies and promotes a free-market ideology. President Trump even warned that if Mamdani came to power, the federal government might cut funding to New York.
Mamdani responded by saying that his wealth redistribution plans would be funded by taxing the rich and helping common people suffering from the cost-of-living crisis. After his victory, Mamdani stated that he would be inclusive toward all citizens regardless of ideology or political differences. He also challenged President Trump, saying, “Turn the volume up,” and added, “New York has always been the state of immigrants, built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and now ruled by immigrants. If you want to remove any of them, you have to go through all of them.”
His post-election messaging was critical of President Trump and sought to project himself as a representative of the people. However, questions have been raised about whether he will stand by his promises. Soon after his victory, old controversies resurfaced, such as Mamdani being a Muslim and allegedly involved in anti-Semitic activities, including calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling him a war criminal.
Mamdani and Jews in New York
This election gained significance as New York hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel. Mamdani’s refusal to visit Israel, a customary practice for New York mayors since 1951, further intensified the debate. He also declined to co-sponsor a resolution recognising Israel’s independence and commemorating the Holocaust. His support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel and his defence of the phrase “Globalise the Intifada” drew heavy criticism.
Mamdani has also attended several pro-Palestine rallies since October 7, 2023, and supported student movements backing Palestine. While many New Yorkers had reasons to be concerned, an interesting aspect emerged. Despite perceptions of him being anti-Jewish, most of his close political staff, advisors, and campaign strategists were Jewish.
Jews Behind Mandani’s Victory
Four key Jewish figures played an instrumental role in Mamdani’s victory. Andrew Epstein, his communications director, managed his social media and improved his outreach during the primaries when his approval ratings were low. Julian Gerson, his political director, was responsible for developing Mamdani’s campaign agenda and is considered the architect of his major policies. Gerson advised Mamdani to focus on local issues like cost of living and standard of living, making the campaign relatable to New Yorkers regardless of religion or ideology.
Morris Katz, his media strategist, and Brad Lander, another Jewish politician who initially contested the mayoral race but later endorsed Mamdani, were also crucial to his win. Reports in The Jerusalem Post highlighted that Jewish donors contributed millions of dollars to pro-Mamdani political action committees. Prominent Jewish congressmen like Chuck Schumer and Jerry Nadler also expressed their support for his campaign. A progressive Jewish group, Jews for Economic and Racial Justice, officially endorsed him. As New York’s mayor, he understands that being against the Jewish community would be politically disastrous in a city with such a large Jewish demographic.
At the same time, Mamdani’s victory has been celebrated by Muslims and Arabs across the world, as he became the first Muslim mayor of New York. However, many Islamic followers remain cautious, noting that Mamdani has condemned Hamas attacks as acts of terrorism and maintained a balanced stance on the Israel-Palestine issue. His approach remains pragmatic, avoiding extreme positions that could jeopardise his administration.
The election results were announced on November 5, a date of political symbolism, as it marked exactly one year since the presidential election that brought Republicans back to power under President Trump. Mamdani’s victory was therefore seen as the first major political setback for Republicans since their return to the White House.
Mamdani & the Democrat Awakening
For Democrats, Mamdani’s victory was a lifeline. It rejuvenated the party, reinstated belief in its political strength, and proved that the American political landscape still accommodates opposition. Some commentators have even called Mamdani the future of the Democratic Party, especially at a time when the party has struggled with leadership and vision.
As for Republicans, the defeat in New York reflected internal weaknesses such as the government shutdown, weak economic messaging, and growing dissatisfaction among citizens. Trump’s tariff policies, while intended to secure America’s economy, have increased costs for consumers and deepened economic distress.
Democrats, on the other hand, mobilised in large numbers, turning the election into a statement against Trump’s leadership. President Trump reacted by saying that Republicans lost in New York because he was not on the ballot, but this defeat raises larger concerns for his party. The Republicans appear overly dependent on one man, and given constitutional limits on presidential terms, this could be a serious long-term issue.
How Social Media Reacted To Mamdani’s Victory
While many have expressed happiness over Mamdani’s victory, social media has been flooded with comments against him, where many have termed his victory as “the death of social democracy and the rise of Islamic Communism”. Some say that the path Mamdani walks on is built entirely on faith. They claim that his so-called words of justice, where he says he wants to do justice for the people by giving them basic rights and making their lives easier by reducing costs, are very much synonymous with faith. People have also said that whenever such ideologies rise, freedom becomes the first victim.
Many have commented that Mamdani speaks the language of liberty, simple, emotional, and moralistic, yet behind that language lies a rejection of modern individuality and the substitution of a divine mindset. There has also been criticism suggesting that Mamdani’s concepts are divinely oriented and not necessarily his own rational thoughts.
About political economy, critics have pointed out that Mamdani has been very strategic. Although he calls himself a democratic socialist, he has never openly criticised capitalist ideas. This is evident from the fact that he has not spoken against privatisation and has not been able to offer any clear alternatives so far.
Some argue that he sounds revolutionary in his speeches, but everyone appears revolutionary before coming to power, and once they assume power, their actions often remain the same. Therefore, while many people are happy with his victory, others remain sceptical, calling his thoughts divinely influenced and labelling him a pseudo-socialist.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
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