The People Support Zohran Mamdani Even If the Democratic Establishment Does Not

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist 

New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani calls himself a Democratic Socialist, a political appellation also used by Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, as well as several other prominent individuals who are on the progressive end of the American political spectrum.  He also considers himself to be a member of the Democratic Party.

Mamdani, who has been serving in the New York State Assembly since 2021, decided this year he wanted to move up in the political world by running for Mayor of New York City.  He ran as a Democrat and won the city's Democratic primary in late June by coming in first with over 43% of the vote in a race that featured several candidates.  His lead was so substantial that the 2nd-place finisher, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, conceded on the night of the election.  New York has a ranked-choice system of voting, so when the 3rd-place finisher, Brad Lander was  eliminated and his 2nd-preference votes were awarded, Mamdani actually won the primary election with a solid majority of over 56 percent.  He was, and is, clearly the people's choice.

Mamdani's victory in the NYC Democratic Primary was formidable - and he became the official Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in the upcoming November election.  

But Andrew Cuomo was not finished in his effort to become Mayor, and he has chosen to run in the November election as an independent.  The current Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, who has been plagued by corruption scandals and appears to be favored to keep the position by former New Yorker, Donald Trump, did not run in the primary, but he wants to keep the job anyway and is also running as an independent.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani tends to get people excited (negatively) with his exotic sounding name, the fact that he was born in Uganda, and is of Indian descent and a Shia Muslim.  He has lived in the United States and New York City since the age of seven.  He currently holds dual citizenship in the United States and Uganda.  He is thirty-three-years-old and married for the first time this year.

Mamdani also excites people (often positively) through his ideas and proposals for bettering the lives of his fellow New Yorkers:  some of his initiatives call for stabilizing rents, making city bus service free, sponsoring community safety programs to address crime before it happens through proven strategies and solutions, city-provided free childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, and city-owned grocery stores.  

Donald Trump has referred to Mamdani as a "communist," and spoken openly about trying to have his citizenship revoked.

The Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has strong support for the voters of New York City.  A Siena College poll released two days ago puts Mamdani in the lead with 44%, followed by Andrew Cuomo at 25%, Republican candidate Curtis Silwa at 12%, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams at 7 percent.

Where candidate Mamdani comes up short is with support from other New York elected Democrats.  He has the support of New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but has not yet been endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries who is from New York, New York Senator and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.  Jeffries, Schumer, and Hochul are three of the most powerful Democrats in the state and the nation.  Former President Bill Clinton, now a New Yorker, sent Mamdani a congratulatory note but stopped short of an endorsement, and Hillary Clinton did not even do that.

By and large the Democratic establishment of New York seems to be staying clear of the clear people's choice in the race for Mayor of New York City.

Democrats not supporting Democrats.  

And they wonder why we can't win elections!