Jacob Smith, assistant professor of political science, says in this opinion piece that New York City’s mayor-elect relentlessly focused on affordability, which could be a winning strategy for Democratic candidates across the country.
Mamdani’s pledge to stand up to Trump could also serve as a road map for the Democratic Party. While his main focus has been on affordability, his clear opposition to the president tapped into Democratic voters’ frustration about the party’s leaders and their willingness to take on Trump.
Democrats would also be wise to listen to New York Democratic voters’ rejection of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. To be sure, Cuomo carried a significant amount of baggage unique to him and his time as governor. However, in an era where a significant percentage of voters believe government officials to be corrupt, Mamdani’s pledge to root out corruption and waste in government is likely to be a winning one that cuts across party lines.
At the same time, Mamdani’s victory does not mean that the entire country is ready for democratic socialism, the ideological label embraced by the mayor-elect (and politicians such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont).
Ultimately, the best endorsement for making it so that democratic socialism is not a liability – and could even be a positive – for a statewide or national Democratic campaign would be for Mamdani to be a successful mayor.
