Zohran Mamdani proves voters care about cost-of-living not culture wars
For the first time in my life, I wish I lived in New York City. At least from June, when the Democratic party had its mayoral primary, through to end November 2025, when the city will have finally chosen its new mayor.
Yes, I wish I lived in NYC. Not for the bagels from Russ & Daughters though they’re pretty good, but for the chance to elect that contradiction in terms, an honest politician.
Someone who seems to speak truth to power and doesn’t try to divide and rule over us all.
I mean Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old member of the New York state assembly who secured a stunning victory against Andrew Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic party’s mayoral primary for New York City.
The result, which is sending shockwaves across Wall Street and through the Democratic party, is being interpreted in various ways. The focus is on some of the following:
- Mr Mamdani’s South Asian Muslim heritage and use of Bollywood clips in his campaign videos.
- Mr Mamdani’s criticism of US support for Israel in Gaza.
- Mr Mamdani’s call for higher taxes on the rich.
All of those are part of either Mr Mamdani’s heritage or his politics. But his success in the Democratic party primary was not because of these. It was a cocktail of the following:
- He promised to make people’s lives better and thought about how to do it. For instance, making NYC more affordable for ordinary people with this easy mantra: “fast and free buses, freeze the rents, free childcare”. While many might think state-run grocery stores have no place in a capitalist society, they actually co-exist with commercial establishments and, like Medicaid and unemployment benefits, serve as crucial support for those who need them. In India, in an earlier era, these fair price shops could be accessed with a “ration card” and they really did help those who were struggling or on a straitened budget..
- He spoke honestly to the people. Rather than falsely promising NYC, which has the biggest Jewish population of any American city, that he would head for Israel on his first foreign tour if he won, Mr Mamdani said he would stay home and do the hard work of being mayor. Pushed on whether he would try and learn more about Jewish New Yorkers, he said he would, but in NYC’s synagogues and temples, in their homes and on the subway and streets. Asked if he believed Israel had a right to exist, he said yes, with equal rights. Rather than exploit differences or look away from injustice, Mr Mamdani addressed testy issues to do with Israel-Palestine straight up. He was believable and clearly, enough New Yorkers believed in his essential goodness as to vote for him. It’s notable they did not brand him anti-Semitic for speaking up about the plight of Palestinians.
- Along with politically radical programmes, he had interesting and memorable campaign ads.
- He built a grassroots campaign supported by young activists and raised funds from small contributions. More than 21,000 donors gave something to Mr Mamdani’s campaign with roughly 75 per cent of them donating less than $100.
- He was not Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who had to resign over sexual harassment allegations (which he denies). Mr Cuomo, scion of a political dynasty, was backed by many Wall Street titans and endorsed by leading lights of the Democratic party.
And yet Mr Mamdani won this round. On to November, the next phase of the contest.
If NYC delivered any lessons at all to the Democratic party it is this: Find those rare honest politicians, get them on the ballot and allow a focus on cost-of-living issues rather than culture wars.
