There is no doubt that the United States faces numerous problems in its current political landscape. Many Americans, particularly young adults, currently feel hopeless and have lost faith in the political system. While in the U.S’ largest and perhaps most influential city, there is a snapshot of many of these problems, there is also a reason to have faith.
The 2025 New York City Mayoral race on Nov. 4 is under the nation’s spotlight, as it may turn out to be one of our generation’s most important races. With all of the darkness surrounding politics at the moment, Candidate Zohran Mamdani has been a ray of hope.
Mamdani is a New York assembly member, a democratic socialist and New York City’s Democratic candidate for mayor. He has run one of the largest grassroots campaigns in New York City history, with policies focused on making the city more affordable to live in.
His policies, with the addition of a well-received social media campaign, have brought a new energy to the Democratic Party, connecting with younger voters like never before.
In the primary, Mamdani saw record-setting turnout in new voters and young voters (18-29). A key factor is his addressing of people’s needs of housing, transit and cost of living rather than the usual games of politics of trading favors, polished soundbites, donor pleasing agendas and lack of authenticity.
Despite his popularity and quick rise to political prominence, there has been a strong hesitancy from the majority of the Democratic Party to support Mamdani.
Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader and a New York Democrat, withheld his endorsement till October despite Mamdani’s primary victory in June.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Bernie Sanders (D-VT) are his two biggest named endorsements; they both endorsed Mamdani in June.
The caution could stem from his relative inexperience, his democratic socialist beliefs or the optics and concerns among party leaders about how supporting him might play with moderate voters.
His biggest competition throughout the race has been former governor Andrew Cuomo. Although losing to Mamdani handily in the primary, Cuomo is still on the ballot as an independent.
“The fight to save our city isn’t over,” Cuomo said. “Only 13% of New Yorkers voted in the June primary. The general election is in November, and I am in it to win it.”
Cuomo resigned as New York governor in 2021, amid harassment allegations.
During the race, he has tried to defame Mamdani, criticized him for his support for Palestine, and allowed others to attack Mamdani based on his religious and cultural background.
His campaign has been nearly the opposite of Mamdani’s grassroots campaign, being funded by millions coming from prominent billionaires and family dynasties.
The White House has also been loud in its opposition to Mamdani. President Donald Trump repeatedly labeled him a “communist” and alluded to false claims that Mamdani is in the country “illegally”.The remarks were part of a broader effort to paint Mamdani as dangerous and un-American.
For many observers, this signaled a troubling pattern: the president leveraging his position to shape a local election through fear and pressure rather than democratic debate.
These attacks have added to his momentum, especially with younger and progressive voters who see him as a candidate willing to take on both the Democratic establishment and the entrenched power structures in New York.
While Mamdani is not a democratic messiah, it is worth noting that his candidacy also carries risks.
At just 33 years old, his relative inexperience in executive roles raises questions about whether he can deliver on ambitious promises such as a rent freeze, free public transit and higher taxes on the wealthy. Even so, he has been a spark, bringing new energy to the Democratic Party.
Though Zohran Mamdani is currently the favorite, nothing is ever guaranteed in politics. If he is victorious, the nation will not only be watching to see the reaction, but they’ll be waiting to see if his actions can live up to his words.
