New York City, long regarded as the beating heart of American capitalism, is on the verge of a political transformation that few could have predicted even a decade ago. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the city’s mayoral race. According to a Siena College poll released on August 12, 2025, Mamdani leads his nearest competitor, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, by a commanding 19-point margin. If he prevails in November’s general election, Mamdani would become not only New York’s first Muslim mayor but also the most overtly socialist leader the city has seen in modern times.
The rise of Mamdani has sent ripples through both local and national political circles. As reported by The Boston Herald, his ascent comes at a time when the Democratic Party is at a crossroads, grappling with internal divisions between its progressive and moderate wings. Some party strategists warn that Mamdani’s victory could signal a leftward shift for Democrats nationwide, emboldening progressives and sidelining moderates. Douglas E. Schoen, a veteran political consultant, put it bluntly in an August 18 opinion piece: “Mamdani’s extreme, socialist policies put the entire party’s political fortunes in jeopardy.”
Mamdani’s platform is nothing if not ambitious. He has pledged to move billions of dollars from the NYPD’s budget to a new Department of Community Safety, emphasizing what he calls “soft on crime” measures. His proposals include replacing police officers with social workers, establishing government-run grocery stores reminiscent of Soviet models, and instituting free buses, universal childcare, and strict rent control. To pay for this sweeping expansion of social programs, Mamdani advocates for significant tax hikes on the city’s wealthiest residents—going so far as to say, “I don’t think we should have billionaires,” a statement that has alarmed Wall Street donors and business leaders alike, according to The Atlantic.
Yet, Mamdani’s lack of traditional executive experience has not gone unnoticed. As The Boston Herald’s Peter Lucas observed, Mamdani has “never had a real job” outside of his tenure in the New York State Assembly and has no background in business, the military, or running large organizations. His main rivals—Cuomo, current Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa—are all seasoned but have failed to ignite voter enthusiasm, leaving Mamdani with a wide berth to define the race on his terms.
National Republicans, sensing an opportunity, have seized on Mamdani’s unapologetically socialist rhetoric. Former President Donald Trump, never one to shy away from hyperbole, labeled Mamdani a “100 per cent Communist lunatic” in a recent social media post. Mamdani, for his part, has rejected the Communist label, insisting that his vision is rooted in democratic socialism and not authoritarianism. “No, I am not,” he replied when asked if he was a Communist, though he remains steadfast in his calls for the abolition of billionaires and the expansion of public goods.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Mamdani has also shown a pragmatic streak in recent months. In early August, he confirmed that he had received a phone call from former President Barack Obama and spent a day campaigning with Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading figure among progressive Democrats. During their outing, Mamdani expressed sympathy for “overstretched and overworked” police officers, even as he reaffirmed his commitment to sweeping reforms. As Michael Powell reported in The Atlantic, Mamdani has worked to balance his deep-seated socialist beliefs with gestures toward mainstream liberalism, attempting to reassure voters and donors alike that he is “prepared to work with the organs of capitalist democracy to progressive ends.”
Still, Mamdani’s ties to the DSA—and the DSA’s own internal divisions—raise questions about how he would govern. The DSA, founded in 1982, has grown from a small, bookish organization into a force of nearly 70,000 members nationwide, including 10,000 in New York City. Its ranks include everyone from pragmatic reformers to Leninist cliques, some of which have staked out controversial positions on issues ranging from policing to international conflicts. Mamdani himself has described the DSA as a crucial support system, once telling a national convention, “It is far easier to corrupt an individual than a mass-movement organization.” He has also argued for pushing causes that make even some supporters uncomfortable, such as the “end goal of seizing the means of production.”
His critics, both inside and outside the Democratic Party, fear that Mamdani’s agenda could have dire consequences for New York and beyond. Schoen warns that if Mamdani’s policies lead to an increase in crime, capital flight, or a deterioration in quality of life, the backlash could damage the Democratic brand for years to come. “If voters see Mamdani’s leadership devastating New York City and come to believe that this is what the Democratic Party has to offer, it stands to reason that Democrats across the country will pay the price,” Schoen wrote.
Mamdani’s stance on issues related to Israel and the city’s large Jewish population has also sparked concern. He has faced criticism for past remarks, including his refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada” and his unwillingness to accept Israel as a Jewish state. Some fear that his leadership could exacerbate tensions and reinforce perceptions of antisemitism within the Democratic Party.
National Democratic leaders have responded with a mix of caution and unease. Representative Josh Gottheimer, a moderate from New Jersey, has openly criticized Mamdani’s policies as inconsistent with the party’s agenda. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, when pressed about Mamdani’s candidacy on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” declined to offer an endorsement or express confidence in the candidate, saying only, “Now, he’s going to have to demonstrate…that his ideas can actually be put into reality.”
Meanwhile, Mamdani’s campaign has worked to broaden its appeal, overhauling its communications team and reaching out to business leaders. After a recent meeting with the Partnership for New York City, the chamber of commerce’s president, Kathryn S. Wylde, acknowledged Mamdani’s political savvy, saying, “He is smart, has a smile that will kill, and he will listen.” But she added that he “has no policy chops—none.”
For many New Yorkers, the coming election is a referendum on the future of the city—and perhaps the Democratic Party itself. Mamdani’s supporters see him as a bold reformer ready to challenge entrenched interests and deliver long-overdue social programs. His detractors warn of economic decline, social unrest, and a political backlash that could reverberate far beyond the five boroughs.
As November approaches, one thing is certain: New York City, and the nation, will be watching closely to see whether Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism can thrive in the capital of capitalism—or whether the city’s grand experiment will serve as a cautionary tale for years to come.
