In a surprising turn of events, Zohran Mamdani has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was backed by substantial institutional support and campaign funds.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state legislator and advocate for Palestinian rights, was able to rally support around his ambitious platform which includes establishing city-owned grocery stores, freezing rents for subsidized tenants, and making bus rides free for all residents.
Despite his progressive proposals, his opponents and numerous media sources focused significant attention on his stance regarding Israel and Palestine.
Mamdani has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and has not shied away from defending Palestinian rights, which has garnered both criticism and support.
His supporters now view his win as a decisive moment in American politics, showcasing the potential for left-wing policies in garnering electoral support and reflecting a shift towards progressive views on international issues, particularly regarding Palestine.
“It’s monumental,” stated Usamah Andrabi, spokesperson for the progressive group Justice Democrats.
“The sky is the limit for true progressives who are willing to unite the working class against billionaires and corporate super PACs while still refusing to compromise on issues as large as a genocide.”
With nearly all votes counted, Mamdani holds a lead of over seven percentage points against Cuomo and is expected to increase that lead through subsequent counting rounds in the ranked-choice voting system employed in the city.
As Cuomo conceded defeat, Mamdani declared victory, positioning himself as the likely next mayor of the largest city in the United States.
Given the strong Democratic leanings in New York, Mamdani’s nomination is expected to set him up for success in the general election scheduled for November.
Many considered Mamdani’s chances slim at the beginning of the campaign; he was polling at only 1 percent as recently as February.
Charismatic and skilled in digital media, Mamdani mobilized a substantial grassroots campaign, utilizing viral videos and direct engagement with voters on the streets.
After the presidential election in November of the previous year, he reached out to Donald Trump supporters and disenchanted non-voters, presenting them with a platform that resonated with their frustrations.
This outreach proved effective, as many expressed willingness to support his mayoral bid.
Mamdani’s campaign was also bolstered by a dedicated army of volunteers, who knocked on doors and spread the word about his candidacy.
Heba Gowayed, a sociology professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), noted that his steadfast opposition to Israeli policies drew many young activists to his campaign.
“The fact that he refused to back down from his position on Palestine is huge,” Gowayed remarked.
“In an atmosphere where we’ve been told that holding that position is politically disqualifying, it was a movement that not only insisted on this position but was, in a sense, predicated on it.”
Gowayed also suggested that any shift towards appeasement could have undermined the enthusiasm and support that ultimately propelled Mamdani to victory.
Initially, Mamdani faced numerous challenges, including limited funding and low name recognition compared to his opponent.
Cuomo, a well-known political figure with a dynasty background, had significant endorsements from influential Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton and Congressman Jim Clyburn.
In contrast, Mamdani was supported by the local Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
This stark difference in campaign resources and visibility made his victory all the more remarkable for his supporters.
“It is absolutely phenomenal and remarkable,” said Gowayed.
Mamdani’s background is notable; he was born in Uganda to Indian heritage and has served in the state assembly since 2021.
The race between Mamdani and Cuomo serves as a significant representation of the ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party, characterized by a tug-of-war between progressive and centrist factions.
Mamdani has been vocal about his opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties.
He led a hunger strike outside the White House in November 2023, demanding an end to military actions against Gaza.
However, as his campaign progressed, his focus shifted more towards local New York issues to connect with city residents.
Despite this, Cuomo attempted to leverage Mamdani’s views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to cast him in a negative light during the campaign.
Cuomo argued that language decrying Israeli actions could incite violence against Jewish Americans, seemingly targeting Mamdani.
He stated, “Hate foments hate. The anti-Israel rhetoric of ‘genocide,’ ‘war criminals,’ and ‘murderers’ must stop. It is spreading like a cancer through the body politic.”
As a member of Netanyahu’s defense team, Cuomo’s connection to the ongoing conflict adds another layer to the campaign dynamics.
Throughout the election, Mamdani and fellow candidates combined efforts against Cuomo, who tried to discredit their alliances by questioning their support for his positions on Israel.
Despite the criticisms, other notable figures, such as City Comptroller Brad Lander, crossed party lines to endorse Mamdani, encouraging their supporters to rank both candidates highly.
The pro-Cuomo super PAC, Fix the City, attempted to target Mamdani politically, receiving substantial funding from prominent supporters of Israel, including Bill Ackman and Michael Bloomberg, both of whom contributed hefty amounts in an effort to bolster Cuomo’s campaign.
Media scrutiny of Mamdani consistently focused on his foreign policy perspectives, questioning his views on Israel’s existence as a Jewish state and whether he would visit the country as a mayor.
On the contrary, Beth Miller, political director at Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Action, suggested that Cuomo miscalculated his approach by centralizing the election narrative around Mamdani’s positions on Israel.
Miller emphasized that recent shifts in Democratic voter sentiment have seen increasing skepticism of unconditional support for Israel, especially in light of ongoing violence in Gaza.
Pew Research Center indicated that 69 percent of Democratic respondents held unfavorable views towards Israel.
Cuomo’s strategy relied on the assumption that Mamdani’s stance on Palestinian rights would be a personal liability.
However, the election results have shown otherwise, suggesting that his support for Palestinian rights may have energized young voters and progressive members within the Jewish community, among others.
In recent years, pro-Israel groups have increasingly invested significant resources into Democratic primaries to overtly oppose progressive candidates.
They have been successful in some past instances, such as the defeats of Congress members Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, who have been openly critical of Israeli policy.
As a result, progressive advocates now hope that Mamdani’s victory signals a turning point in the ongoing ideological battle within the party, advocating for a more inclusive and humane approach to political discourse regarding Palestine.
image source from：aljazeera
