A left-wing candidate has pulled up from behind to become the dark horse in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. His surprise success is indicative of the debate raging within the Democratic Party on what kinds of leaders they want in the Trump era.
After Donald Trump’s stunning 2024 presidential victory – where he made inroads in reliably liberal New York City – a millennial New York state assemblyman had a question.
“What would it take for you to vote for a Democrat in the future?” Zohran Mamdani asked Bronx and Queens residents who either swung for Trump or didn’t vote.
The query was part of a video series that went viral and helped make the 33-year-old democratic socialist – with little name recognition – into a serious contender for New York City’s mayor.
Democrats in New York head to the polls on Tuesday to choose a nominee to lead America’s biggest city. Nine people are vying for the job, in a race that could have implications for the party nationally as it tries to take on Trump.
It is largely a battle between two very different candidates: Queens New York state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former governor Andrew Cuomo.
The race is being watched, not just by New Yorkers, but by Democrats across the country, as it is largely seen as a proxy war for the very real internal battle that has plagued the party ever since Trump won the presidency, expanding his appeal in parts of New York City in the process.
Since then, the party has been engaged in a soul searching mission between left-wing and moderates in the party.
Cuomo – the former New York governor – is largely viewed as the moderate “establishment” candidate, while Mamdani is garnering the support of many young and left-leaning voters. He has been compared to another democratic socialist and a progressive superstar, Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Both she and Senator Bernie Sanders have endorsed Mr Mamdani.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is polling behind a distant third, but since the race uses ranked ballots, he could be a factor in future rounds of voting.
Once 40 points behind, Mamdani has closed the gap with Cuomo and led in a few polls.
He said that voters in the most expensive US city want Democrats to focus on affordability. His platform includes free public buses, universal childcare, freezing rent in subsidized units, and city-run grocery stores.
“This is a city where one in four of its people are living in poverty, a city where 500,000 kids go to sleep hungry every night” he told the BBC at a recent event. “And ultimately, it’s a city that is in danger of losing that which it makes it so special.”
While he insists he can make the city more affordable, critics question such ambitious promises.
The New York Times did not endorse anyone in the city’s mayoral primary, and criticised the candidates generally. Its editorial board said Mamdani’s agenda is “uniquely unsuited to the city’s challenges” and “often ignores the unavoidable trade offs of governance.”
The millennial progressive, who would be the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, has leaned into his roots in a diverse city. Born in Uganda, his family moved to New York City when he was seven. He’s posted one campaign video entirely in Urdu and mixed in Bollywood film clips. In another, he speaks Spanish.
“There’s nobody who represents the totality of the issues that I truly care about that’s running for mayor currently other than Zohran,” Jagpreet Singh, political director for social justice organization DRUM, told the BBC.
“I’m not going to hold my nose for the first time in a long time that can remember to vote for a candidate.”
One big question is whether Mamdani’s profile has risen enough to beat Cuomo, who has the power of name recognition.
The veteran politician is hoping for an official comeback after resigning as governor four years ago amidst an explosive sexual harassment scandal.
His ties to the city run deep, not just from his time as New York’s governor but because of his father Mario Cuomo, who was the longest serving New York governor in modern history. Cuomo now leads among older New Yorkers and – crucially – black voters, who make up about a third of the electorate.
Cuomo has argued his reputation for being moderate is “a myth”, citing legislation he passed on marriage equality, criminal justice reform, and climate change protection. He also faces criticism over Covid deaths in nursing homes and his management style.
At a rally hosted earlier this month by the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which is among the unions endorsing Cuomo despite calling for his resignation four years ago, Judith Seemungal said she only remembers his support.
“Because of my union, I own a house in New York City, I send three of my grandsons to college, and Mr Andrew Cuomo always, always represents
Content adapted by the team from the original source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2rgzye9no
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