Something strange is happening in New York City politics: a 34-year-old democratic socialist who refuses big donations and talks more about rent than rhetoric is suddenly the favorite to be mayor.
Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York’s mayoral race feels like an insurgency.
He runs in contrast to conventional Democratic playbooks: his platform—free buses, rent freezes, public grocery stores, and a $30 minimum wage—sounds radical to some, but to a growing share of voters, it’s appealing.
Highlights
- Zohran Mamdani’s rise as a 34-year-old democratic socialist signals New Yorkers' desire for affordable living and practical policies over rhetoric.
- Mamdani’s platform includes free buses, rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, and raising the minimum wage to $30, funded by taxing the wealthy 1%.
- Young voters, tired of establishment politics, resonate with Mamdani’s grassroots campaign and refusal to accept big donations.
- His tax hike proposals face political hurdles, including opposition from Governor Hochul and the risk of wealthy residents leaving NY.
Zohran Mamdani has become the favorite to be mayor despite his unconventional playbook
Image credits: Stephani Spindel/Getty Images
Democratic nominee Mamdani is running against Republican Curtis Sliwa and Independent Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo was the governor of New York until 2021, when he resigned following multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
The positive response to Mamdani’s campaign promises is showing a sign of what New Yorkers have been wanting and needing—and are getting from Mamdani’s promises.
We highlight what Mamdani’s popularity reveals about the tangibles and values New Yorkers seem to want from their future leader.
Image credits: Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images
Relief from the daily cost squeeze
In Harvard’s recent focus group of New York voters under 30, affordability was the top concern across political lines, with four in 10 young Americans saying they were “barely getting by” financially.
That sentiment explains much of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign success. His campaign runs almost entirely on one theme, ‘Making life livable again.’
He proposes:
- Freezing rent increases for rent-stabilized units
- Creating city-run grocery stores
- Free citywide bus service
- Strict accountability for landlords
- Free child care
He proposes to do the above by taxing the wealthy 1%.
Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, is hoping to beat Mamdani at the polls on Tuesday
Image credits: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
This stands out especially against Mamdani’s main competitor, Andrew Cuomo, who had greenlit $959 million in state subsidies to benefit Elon Musk, a move that largely failed to deliver the promised economic benefits.
However, some analysts question the feasibility of fully funding all proposals without affecting the city’s broader budget.
Not owned by the rich
Mamdani’s campaigning has been unlike most politicians. He has engaged directly with social media users, reached out to night-shift workers, attended parties to promote himself, attended community meetings, and so on.
He seems to answer questions truthfully, like when he was asked if he had ever bought marijuana, and he said yes.
For years, Democrats and Republicans alike have promised affordability and safety but failed to deliver on these.
Young voters, especially, have tuned out the establishment. Only 16% of Americans under 30 say democracy works for them. Mamdani’s campaign signals that a large portion of the electorate wants politics they can believe in again.
Image credits: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
He ran mainly on small-donor grassroots fundraising, and after hitting New York’s small-donor cap, Mamdani refused further contributions.
It highlights what voters increasingly crave: a sense that their leaders aren’t owned. He tells voters he answers to them, not to donors, and they seem to believe him.
Ruby Belle Booth, who studies young voters for the nonpartisan research organization CIRCLE, told NPR, “Mamdani is this candidate who is actively challenging the status quo in a lot of ways rather than representing it.”
Considering the working class
New Yorkers want politics that address locally urgent problems rather than grand promises.
For instance, Mamdani’s policy offering for a new Department of Community Safety has received a positive response. It suggests shifting some responsibilities, such as mental-health response and homelessness outreach, away from the traditional police system.
Mamdani has recommended shifting mental health and homelessness outreach responses to a new department
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While the Trump administration’s reliance on federalized responses like the National Guard to address crime takes up more controversial news space, Mamdani frames homeless people as New Yorkers and has vowed to help them rather than fight them.
Mamdani’s policies aim to modernize education infrastructure while promoting sustainability. He plans to renovate 500 schools, installing renewable energy to reduce energy costs and transforming schoolyards into green spaces.
Mamdani, who was born to parents of Indian descent and raised in Uganda, also had a multilingual and multicultural outreach strategy reaching immigrant communities that make up a considerable portion of New York residents.
He’s made campaign videos in Hindi, Urdu, and Spanish, and targeted WhatsApp and Instagram users to reach immigrant communities.
“We ran a campaign that tried to talk to every New Yorker, whether I could speak their language or simply tried,” Mamdani said.
Image credits: YouTube/Zohran Mamdani
Taxi drivers have become one of Zohran’s most mobilized political bases after he joined them during a 2021 hunger strike. It helped deliver a $450 million rescue package. This has won him their support.
Clean politics
New Yorkers have lived through political corruption and scandals, such as Andrew Cuomo’s ethics violations and sexual allegations, and Eric Adams’ fundraising probes.
Image credits: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Mamdani may be inexperienced, but his perceived authenticity is exactly what many feel establishment politics has lost.
Prioritizing everyday issues over partisan politics
Another reason Mamdani has resonated is his focus on tangible, everyday concerns rather than ideological posturing.
During a June WNBC Democratic mayoral primary debate moderated by Melissa Russo and David Ushery, mayoral candidates, including Mamdani, were asked what their first foreign visit would be if they won. While others answered “Israel,” Mamdani responded, “New York.”
Mamdani’s response seemed to strike a chord with many, especially those who believe the US is doing more for Israel than taking care of challenges at home.
This is not to say Mamdani rallies with no faults of his own.
Mamdani’s taxation plan is reliant on many moving parts and political support
Image credits: Andres Kudacki/Getty Images
Many have noted the 33-year-old mayoral candidate lacks experience in politics compared to his competitors. There are also possible problems with his strategy.
Mamdani advocates for raising the top corporate rate from 7.25% to 11.50%, but there are issues Mamdani could face in receiving these funds.
For instance, while Mamdani promised to raise the corporate tax rate, only the New York state legislature and governor have the actual powers to do so, Reuters noted.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who is up for reelection in 2026 and is the leading candidate for the position, has opposed Mamdani’s proposed tax hikes and could reject his policy proposal.
Image credits: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
High taxes on wealthy individuals could also incentivize them to leave New York for states with lower taxes. This would cause the state to lose a significant portion of the tax revenue it had hoped to collect from high earners.
Clearly, Mamdani’s campaign has tapped into a desire among New Yorkers for leaders who prioritize the working-class issues. But translating that popularity into actual policy will be a test.
Mamdani is set to face political roadblocks, such as opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to hold back federal funding to NYC if he wins the race, as well as the economic realities of funding ambitious programs.
Image credits: Instagram/Zohran Mamdani
New Yorkers have shown an increased enthusiasm for voting during these elections, with four times the number of votes being cast in the nine days of early voting compared to the 2021 election.
Polls across New York opened at 6 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET today. Results are expected to follow fairly quickly.