The Name is Mamdani, M-A-M-D-A-N-I

Ian Lanthrop: A Mandate for Change and Affordability: A New Era for Democratic Leadership

A Mandate for Change Photo Credit: Reuters

In a historic campaign, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral election. Running on a platform of affordability and equality, Zohran’s victory marks the return of populism on the left. This election thoroughly shook the democratic establishment, and only time will tell how his victory will influence the party moving forward.

“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford,” declared 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Kwame Mamdani after his decisive win in New York’s recent mayoral election.

In a historic victory, Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo— who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Once inaugurated in January, Mamdani will become the city’s first South-Asian,

Muslim, and African-born person to hold the office, as well as its youngest since 1892.

Over the last year, Mamdani won the hearts of millions nationwide. Many first came to know the former city assemblyman through his authentic and far-reaching social media presence and youth outreach. However, his efforts didn’t stop there. His campaign put in incredible time and effort to connect with and amplify the voices of New Yorkers from every corner of the city's five boroughs. 

The grassroots nature of his campaign has been one of its defining characteristics, earning him key endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This election also resulted in record voter turnout, especially among young and first-time voters, marking the first mayoral election to exceed two million votes since 1969.  

For the city’s expansive middle and working class, Mamdani’s campaign and recent electoral victory are a breath of fresh air, bringing new faces and even fresher ideas to an office many feel has otherwise failed them. His platform centers on expanding affordability, accessibility, and equality. They hope to make a more equitable city, where the wealthy, corporations, and elite educational institutions pay their fair share so that the middle and working classes can not only survive, but thrive. While many of his voters still have their doubts, it reflects a bright new path forward. 

During his mayoralty, Zohran plans to lower costs for residents by addressing housing inequality, improving public transit, increasing access to food and other necessities, and subsidizing childcare. Beyond reducing costs, this administration is preparing to implement measures to raise wages, regulate delivery apps, and protect small businesses. There are also plans to ensure that the city’s public schools are equitably staffed and funded, guaranteeing all children access to quality education, extracurriculars, and strong support systems. Similarly, Zohran intends to restore and expand library funding, underscoring the importance of public libraries for strong and healthy communities. 

During his victory speech, Mamdani spoke of a city that honors and protects its rich diversity of culture and history,  “...[remaining] a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant.” Consequently, his administration has vowed to create a city where immigrants and LGBTQIA+ residents feel safe and secure by strengthening the city’s position as a sanctuary city. Effectively, Zohran intends to “Trump-Proof” the city, removing ICE from city institutions and reforming public safety, emphasizing community safety over policing and carceral justice. 

This watershed election underscores the need for a fundamental shift within the Democratic Party, challenging its deeply entrenched, wealthy establishment. It represents a beacon of hope for millions of Americans who, regardless of party or ideology, feel alienated and disillusioned by the current political and social climate. In the face of growing authoritarianism in Washington, Zohran’s victory offers an opportunity to build a powerful grass-roots movement with the potential to usher in real change and a new era of Democratic leadership. 

In the words of the mayor-elect, “We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible… we won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us.” His inspiring victory urges us that “Now, [politics] is something we do.”