Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old who has served three terms as a state assembly member, is moving closer to achieving his goals after former Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his withdrawal from the race on Tuesday. In the first round of voting, Mamdani received 43.5% of the votes, significantly ahead of Cuomo, who garnered 36.4%.
A self-identified democratic socialist is aiming to become the first Muslim mayor of New York City, the largest city in the United States. This candidate poses a distinct challenge to the powerful insiders and older politicians whose actions have contributed to a record low approval rating for the Democratic Party, now at just 29%. Meanwhile, former Governor Andrew Cuomo has hinted that he might run as an independent candidate in November, a possibility that current Mayor Eric Adams is also considering.
Policy Platform Draws Sharp Criticism and Support
Economic Proposals Under Fire
Mamdani is focusing on making life more affordable for New Yorkers in his campaign. He suggests measures like freezing rent for people living in certain types of rental homes, providing free public transportation, and opening city-run grocery stores that offer lower prices. However, his plan to keep rent prices the same for over a million people and increase taxes on large corporations is seen by some, such as Kathryn Wylde, who leads the Partnership for New York City, as potentially harmful to residents.
“When a politician talks about taxing wealthy people and big companies, it sounds good to young folks who think, ‘That’s not me, so I’m fine.’ However, in the long run, everyone ends up feeling the impact when businesses raise their prices to cover those extra expenses.”
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers expressed serious concerns on social media on Wednesday about the future of the Democratic Party and the nation. He specifically criticized Mamdani’s political views, particularly calling out what he sees as extreme economic ideas.
Read how business owners are reacting – Businesses have mixed feelings
Housing and Business Concerns
Kenny Burgos, the president of the New York Apartment Association, expressed concerns about Mamdani’s suggestion to freeze rent prices. He believes this could make it difficult for landlords to maintain their buildings, many of which are older and in need of repairs. As a result, tenants may find that their homes deteriorate to the point where they become uninhabitable.
Mamdani suggested that the city should create 200,000 new affordable homes. However, Burgos raised concerns about this plan, asking who would want to invest in properties or neighborhoods where the government seeks to limit potential profits and freeze investment opportunities. “How does that make sense?” he questioned.
Labor Support and Minimum Wage Plans
The United Auto Workers (UAW), a prominent labor union, announced its support for Mamdani due to his intense focus on working-class issues. UAW president Shawn Fain expressed his thoughts in a statement after Mamdani won the election, saying, “The working class is tired of the old way of doing things. We were the first union to support Zohran because it’s time for a political movement that prioritizes the needs of everyday workers.”
Mamdani expressed his support for a proposed local law that aims to increase New York City’s minimum wage to $ 15 per hour by the year 2021. Recently, a law in California raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers by $4, bringing it to $20 an hour. Studies on this change have yielded mixed results regarding its impact on jobs and prices.
Grocery Store Innovation and Street Food Reform
Mamdani has a popular idea to create a network of grocery stores owned by the city, which would not have to pay rent or property taxes. However, billionaire John Catsimatidis, who owns grocery chains like Gristedes and D’Agostino, has expressed that if Mamdani wins the election, he doesn’t want to keep his stores open in New York City. This could result in nearly 30 grocery stores closing down.
“New York City is facing a serious issue known as ‘halal inflation,'” according to Mamdani in a recent campaign video with street food vendors. These vendors are struggling because they have to wait a long time to obtain their food permits, and the city imposes limits on the number of permits it issues. As a result, many of them have to spend around $20,000 to rent permits from others who already have them.
Democratic Party Establishment Reaction
Mixed Response from Party Leaders
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer both shared their thoughts on Wednesday after speaking with Mamdani, who recently won his campaign. Schumer praised Mamdani for running a strong campaign that resonated with New Yorkers, focusing on essential issues like affordability, fairness, and opportunity.
Some moderate House Democrats from New York are expressing their concerns about the leading candidate for a local election. Rep. Laura Gillen said, “Zohran Mamdani’s ideas are too radical for New York City. His campaign focuses on promises that seem unrealistic and suggests raising taxes, which is the last thing our city needs.”
Representative Tom Suozzi from New York shared on social media that he had significant worries about Assemblyman Mamdani even before a recent event. This is part of why he chose to support Mamdani’s opponent instead. He stated that those worries are still on his mind.
Campaign Strategy and Social Media Mastery
The campaign combined grassroots efforts, digital strategies, and strong policy ideas. The candidate, who was born in Uganda to an Indian family, is a charming and well-connected New Yorker. He has taken inspiration from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ability to capture people’s attention and connect with them effectively.
On New Year’s Day, wearing a full suit and tie but no shoes, he dashed into the icy waters at Coney Island. Afterwards, he took a walk along the beach, discussing policies and sharing some amusing puns on social media. He joked, “I’m freezing… your rent as the next mayor of New York City. Let’s dive into the details.”
Political Implications and Future Outlook
“What’s going on in New York City is a clear message to those in the Democratic establishment who are stuck in the past, relying on carefully crafted talking points, and are hesitant to speak the truth,” tweeted Dan Pfeiffer, who used to be a senior advisor to President Barack Obama.
Mamdani resonated with a city struggling to cope with high living costs. In Manhattan, the average rent has soared to $5,000 a month. When Trump voiced people’s frustrations and presented a false sense of populism, he was elected president twice. However, when Mamdani suggests solutions that are considered normal in many European countries, he gets labeled as an extremist.
This win is the first primary Democratic contest since Trump’s victory, and it could signal a shift for the party as it seeks a way forward after its losses in the November election.