System Check: The Mamdani Model – A Socialist Mayoral Candidate & The Flaws Of The Democratic Party
Thalia Juarez
Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for his party’s primaries saw the highest voter turnout in recent years. What’s more, he didn’t have to sit on a fence, claim to be powerless, or kiss the ring of the Republican powers that be; all moves popularised by his party leaders in Washington DC. While Mamdani builds rent-freeze coalitions in Queens, Democratic leaders in Washington have perfected the art of performative futility. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries preside over a party stripped of power and purpose.
Their greatest achievements in the second Trump era? Hakeem Jefferies broke a racist’s filibuster record with a 13-hour-long speech, to which the media responded by asking him how he managed not to pee himself. Chuck Schumer played the role of the powerless victim in the Senate, leading a letter-writing campaign to no avail, not even a single policy concession. Yet, he claims victory and brags about the fact that the Big Beautiful Bill’s name was changed, not its contents, nor its dystopian corporate tax cuts and simultaneous welfare cuts estimated to plunge nearly 11 million Americans into a life without any healthcare.
These token victories for the Democrats are like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship, offering distraction rather than solutions. In the meantime, Assemblyman Mamdani led a historic grassroots campaign comparable to those of his progressive counterparts, such as Rep. AOC or Sen. Bernie Sanders, when they first began. What was the key to his victory while running on the blue ticket during a red tsunami in America?
Symbolism: The Opiate of the Establishment
Mamdani proposed plans like rent freezes, free buses & eviction blockades, all essentially progressive populism. However, what distinguishes him from the populism of the right is a solid plan on how to go about achieving it. Simply put, he wants to tax Manhattan’s Wall Street for what they’re actually worth, not what their lobbyists think they’re worth. Meanwhile, Jefferies’ record-breaking speech, while inspiring and important, is merely performative. The more than half-day filibuster was quickly undone in the days following, when the historic “Big Beautiful Bill” was passed anyway in resounding fashion. In the Senate, Chuck Schumer’s letter-writing campaign failed to make any effective changes. He even went as far as to admit that the party currently operates from a position of weakness. This move left voters, both current and prospective, confused, who asked why they should ever pick the losing horse in today’s partisan politics.
The word “symbolises” gets thrown around a lot in today’s politically charged world. Everything from a monarch’s tie to a president’s attire holds deeper meaning and value. However, the symbolism of the one thing that matters is forgotten – a voter’s life. What makes a voter’s life easier? Rent freezes or the name of a bill being changed? Protection from greedy and predatory landlords or the finest paper in all of DC being stamped, sealed, and delivered to the White House en masse, to never be read? For all the things that Republican lawmakers can and should be criticised for, one thing remains: their policy platform. Irrespective of who may or may not like it, everyone knows what the MAGA-GOP alliance stands for. Their liberal counterparts, however, can’t seem to decide if they should or shouldn’t get behind the most successful candidate in recent history.
The Core Disconnect – The Establishment v. The People Of New York
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said, when talking of the progressive wing of the Democratic party, “…these people have a burning hatred for Israel. It’s one of the main pieces of their platform…” Mamdani is often accused of having the same anti-Israel bias. His stance on Gaza further alienates establishment Democrats. His vocal criticism of Israel’s actions, including his defence of the phrase “globalize the intifada” as a call for Palestinian human rights, has drawn accusations of antisemitism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel Democrats like Representative Elise Stefanik.
Yet Mamdani, supported by Jewish allies like Brad Lander, insists his position is rooted in universal human rights, stating, “I’m not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion.” This clarity contrasts with the Democratic Party’s tendency to equivocate, often framing complex issues like Gaza as “complicated” to avoid alienating donors or voters. In politics, the business of stances, having a stance, as unfavorable as it may be, is better than not having one at all.
Progressive leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have been the undoing of this ambiguity, taking firm stances that resonate with younger, more diverse voters. Sanders, reflecting on Mamdani’s win, wrote, “The future of the Democratic party will not be determined by its current leadership. It will be decided by the working class of this country.” Their approach has emboldened candidates like Mamdani, who reject the party’s both-sides-ism on issues voters care about, from economic inequality to foreign policy. This has made Mamdani a target for an establishment wary of losing control to a rising progressive tide.
Reiterating the need for hard stances, even if they are unfavorable, Mamdani’s stance speaks volumes to his base. His rejection of capitalism’s excesses was best expressed in a CNN interview where he stated, “No. I have many critiques of capitalism. There must be a better distribution of wealth in this country.” This invited clashes with the party’s moderate, pro-corporate donors. These donors, including those who backed disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo’s super PAC, fear progressive policies that threaten their economic interests, preferring candidates who maintain the status quo.
Zohran Mamdani’s victory is a wake-up call for the Democratic Party. His rejection of establishment politics and embrace of actual policies resonate with an electorate disillusioned by the party’s 2024 failures. By following Mamdani’s lead, Democrats can reconnect with voters, but this requires moving beyond Schumer and Jeffries’ symbolic gestures and embracing a progressive vision.