On a rainy Wednesday evening in New York City, many residents remained sheltered in their apartments, but that was precisely the environment Mohit Sani and Dylan Halper were counting on as they set out for canvassing.
Halper, an enthusiastic 18-year-old volunteer and seasoned canvasser, confidently knocks on the door of a nearby apartment in the Upper East Side, where Maria, a resident accompanied by her barking dog, greets them.
“My name is Dylan, and this is Mohit. We’re volunteers with Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor,” Halper introduces himself.
The response from Maria indicates skepticism.
“Democrat or Republican?” she queries, seemingly unaware of Mamdani’s campaign.
Halper quickly reassures her, explaining that Mamdani, a Democrat, is advocating for a freeze on rent for rent-stabilized tenants.
A moment later, Maria excitedly responds, “That’s me! He’s got my vote!” and expresses gratitude to the two volunteers for visiting her.
Halper and Sani are part of a larger group of volunteers dedicated to propelling Zohran Mamdani, 33, and a state Assembly member from Queens, into the mayoral office.
Mamdani, affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has centered his campaign around issues of affordability, including free public transport, city-funded grocery stores, universal childcare, and a rent freeze.
So far, Mamdani’s campaign has exceeded expectations, positioning him as a strong contender among a field of progressive candidates, currently sitting as a robust number two in polling.
His campaign, which relies heavily on engaging social media content, has resonated with the so-called ‘terminally online’ demographic, not to mention the staggering support shown by individual donor contributions.
Over 27,000 people have contributed to his campaign, significantly surpassing the next leading candidate, City Comptroller Brad Lander, who follows Mamdani in terms of donor numbers by a margin of 12,000.
Supporters liken Mamdani to a youthful version of Bernie Sanders or a socialist Barack Obama, indicating a shift in the political landscape as they rally behind him.
However, Mamdani’s ascent has not been without challenge.
Critics have labeled him inexperienced and a ‘show pony,’ while accusations of nepotism surface alongside concerns over his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly regarding his outspoken stance on the situation in Gaza.
Should he be elected, Mamdani would make history as the first Muslim mayor of New York City, further complicating his campaign in the eyes of more traditional political factions, especially given the pro-Israel sentiment embedded in the city’s political culture.
Although Mamdani has gained a notable following, he still trails former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has consistently maintained a lead even prior to his official entry into the race.
Despite this setback, a recent Emerson poll indicates that Mamdani is narrowing the lead to single digits in the final round of a ranked-choice voting tally, suggesting a growing momentum for his campaign.
While Cuomo has amassed significant funding through well-established super PACs and enjoys substantial name recognition, the Mamdani campaign strongly emphasizes grassroots mobilization.
According to campaign sources, nearly 30,000 volunteers have signed on to canvass, with over 750,000 doors knocked, making this operation one of the most extensive in New York City’s electoral history.
Mamdani himself has referred to the operation as the “largest volunteer effort in NYC history,” reflecting its ambitious scope which reaches every borough any night of the week.
However, canvassing can often feel like a daunting task.
New York’s challenging apartment building landscape means that volunteers must navigate through doormen and buzzing systems, often only to find that residents are unavailable.
Despite these obstacles, Halper and Sani remain undeterred.
Halper, sharing a connection as a DSA member, expresses deep investment in Mamdani’s vision, but there’s also a personal element at play that drives volunteers: campaign merchandise.
Each volunteer receives a special “ZetroCard,” modeled after a MetroCard, designed to document how frequently they’ve canvassed.
He’s heard that filling it out quickly might earn him a coveted poster — a unique keepsake found nowhere else.
Moreover, Mamdani’s campaign harnesses New York City’s campaign financing laws to turn its merchandise into collectible items, including vibrant yellow bandanas featuring iconic city imagery like pigeons and hot dogs, appealing to the hip, youthful demographic involved in the campaign.
The only way to obtain such items is through participation — a move designed to make engaging with the campaign easy and effective.
Anna Henderson, a 25-year-old canvasser, echoes the sentiment that other volunteer opportunities can often be convoluted and unresponsive; Mamdani makes it accessible.
“When I decided to do it, I just clicked on a day I could go in my neighborhood and just went,” she reflects on the straightforward signup process.
As a seasoned canvasser in the Lower East Side, Henderson appreciates the ease of getting involved contrasted with other organizations that often present barriers.
However, this low entry threshold carries potential pitfalls, particularly regarding neighborhood saturation.
While some areas benefit from an abundance of canvassers, such as Williamsburg and Astoria, others like the South Bronx find themselves devoid of representation.
Maxwell Dickinson, a field lead from the Bronx, shares concerns over underrepresented neighborhoods as he canvasses with a diverse group of volunteers, including many individuals aged over 40 — a segment Mamdani aimed to rally.
Drawing from his Miami roots, Dickinson cautiously approaches discussions around Mamdani’s affiliation with the DSA, aware that many communities may not be receptive to socialist messaging.
After coffee and pancakes with fellow canvassers, dialogues emerge on ways to improve outreach, including collaborations with local organizations to better connect with underprivileged communities.
With reference to Parkchester’s large Bengali population, ideas are shared for leveraging local demographics.
Meanwhile, individuals like Myesha Choudhury draw upon their canvassing experiences, explaining their mission to reach voters who may not fully comprehend local politics, particularly young adults who may view New York as a temporary stop.
Determined to activate younger New Yorkers, Choudhury co-founded Hot Girls 4 Zohran, a community initiative that embraces social activities like picnics, postering sessions, raves, fundraising events, and canvassing efforts.
On a sunny Sunday morning, 15 of these “Hot Girls” enthusiastically apply posters around Central Park West, each one pairing a Mamdani plank with a directive against ranking Cuomo, a position aligned with official canvasser messages.
Choudhury’s sentiment resonates as one supporter emphasizes that Cuomo’s aloofness seems intentional to dodge engagement on his platform, raising further doubts around his election viability as he garners support from prominent unions, even from those who previously sought his resignation in 2021.
Striving for unity in the community, Cuomo attempts to consolidate Black clergy support, a demographic vital to New York election outcomes, hoping to mimic the success of Mayor Eric Adams from the prior cycle.
This nuanced strategy keeps him secured as a frontrunner, minimizing room for opponents to challenge him directly and strategically withdrawing from public discourse.
As the canvassing teams strive for Mamdani’s success, constructs seem to lean towards optimism from the volunteers’ perspective.
Henderson articulates her feelings saying, “I am not under any illusions that he has it in the bag, but I don’t think it’s impossible. It doesn’t feel like a lost cause. I guess I’m canvass-pilled.”
Conversely, Sani, energized from his first canvassing venture, acknowledges a significant shift in his own political engagement since he began volunteering.
Reflecting on his past habits of only consuming politics through media like John Oliver or Hasan Minhaj, Sani notes how he now feels more active, stating, “I look at my past self… I was angry all day, but nothing happened from that anger.”
With the election looming closer and early voting set to commence on June 14, the road ahead remains encumbered with challenges, yet the volunteer army has much at stake in this election cycle.
Sani once again buzzes the doorbell in a dimly lit Upper East Side apartment, hopeful for a positive response.
After several attempts, a muffled voice finally breaks through the intercom.
“How can I help you?”
Summoning his courage, Sani quickly replies, “I’m here to talk about Zohran.”
A lingering pause precedes a disappointed response from the voice, “I was sleeping.”
Realizing the moment, Sani expresses genuine remorse, asking Halper, “Did I do something wrong?”
In the face of continual setbacks, Sani and Halper, like many of their fellow volunteers, are determined to continue reaching out, embodying hope and persistence for the campaign as it gains traction toward election day.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/04/zohran-mamdani-volunteers-support-mayoral-race-progressive/
