New York City politics have rarely been short of drama, but the city’s latest electoral cycle has delivered a moment that has both energized and unsettled residents across the five boroughs. On November 26, 2025, Zohran Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist” and vocal critic of billionaires, clinched the mayoral seat in a race that saw issues of affordability, social justice, and foreign policy take center stage. Meanwhile, Julie Menin, a moderate Democrat and Jewish councilwoman representing Manhattan’s Upper East Side, declared victory in the race for City Council speaker, setting the stage for a potentially tense but collaborative dynamic at City Hall.
Mamdani’s victory is historic in several respects. As reported by Globetrotter, his campaign was powered by approximately 90,000 volunteers who knocked on an astonishing three million doors, mobilizing a grassroots movement rarely seen in recent city elections. His platform focused squarely on making New York City affordable for working people—a message that resonated in a metropolis where rising rents and living costs have squeezed families for years. But what truly set Mamdani apart was his unwavering pro-Palestine stance, a position that, in the words of Globetrotter, “overcame the challenges posed by the propaganda fueled by billionaires and the Zionist lobby.”
Yet, as the city prepares for a new administration, there is a palpable sense of cautious optimism among supporters. The optimism, according to Globetrotter, stems from Mamdani’s willingness to challenge entrenched power structures and his campaign’s success in making socialism less of a taboo in American political discourse. The article draws parallels to the presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, noting how such efforts have “helped make the term socialism less taboo in the United States—a society where scaremongering about socialism and communism has been widespread.”
Still, the caution is hard to ignore. Many progressive observers recall how other self-identified democratic socialists, such as Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have at times struggled to maintain a firmly anti-imperialist stance. Globetrotter points out that Mamdani himself has expressed critical views of socialist-leaning governments, labeling leaders like Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba as “dictators.” This, the article argues, reflects a broader trend among Western social democrats, who often distance themselves from socialist experiments abroad and, when in power, sometimes adopt neoliberal or even imperialist policies.
“Even with these caveats, we can hope that Mamdani would make a sincere attempt to make good on his promises to make New York a more affordable city for the working people,” writes Globetrotter’s Subin Dennis. But the path ahead is anything but clear. Mamdani will face significant obstacles, not least from the Donald Trump administration, the Democratic Party establishment, and the city’s bureaucracy. Whether he will hold steadfast or “go the way of Sanders and AOC,” as Globetrotter puts it, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the City Council is poised for its own transformation. Julie Menin, a moderate Democrat and a champion of efforts to combat antisemitism, announced that she had secured the support of a “super majority” of 36 out of the council’s 51 members, effectively clinching the role of City Council speaker ahead of the official vote in January 2026. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Menin would become the first Jewish speaker in the council’s history—a milestone for a city with a deep and complex Jewish heritage.
Menin’s ascent is significant not just for its historical import but for the political balance it promises to bring. The City Council, which controls key aspects of New York City’s $116 billion budget and passes laws independently from the mayor’s office, is a crucial counterweight to the mayor. Menin has positioned herself as a moderating influence on Mamdani’s progressive agenda, securing support from many moderate Democrats and Republicans. Her main rival, Brooklyn’s Crystal Hudson, is backed by the council’s progressive bloc and is widely seen as more closely aligned with Mamdani.
In her statement, Menin struck a tone of unity and pragmatism. “I am honored and humbled by the trust and faith that my colleagues have put in me to lead the City Council as a force of action for New York families,” she said. She added, “With this broad five-borough coalition, we stand ready to partner with mayor-elect Mamdani’s administration and deliver on a shared agenda that makes New York more affordable through universal childcare, lowers rent and healthcare costs, and ensures that families across the city can do more than just get by.”
Menin’s personal and political background has shaped her public image. The granddaughter and daughter of Holocaust survivors, she has been a vocal advocate for Holocaust education and efforts to combat antisemitism. Menin has also made pro-Israel advocacy a visible part of her work, marching in the Israel Day Parade in May 2025 and traveling to Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Israel in February 2024 to show solidarity. Her district, which includes neighborhoods like the Upper East Side, has at times been at the heart of contentious debates over Israel and Palestine. During Mamdani’s campaign, his support for the boycott Israel movement and past anti-Israel rhetoric stoked fears among some Jewish New Yorkers, particularly in Menin’s district, which had supported his opponent.
The tension between the mayor-elect and the incoming speaker was on display recently after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated against an Israeli immigration event at the Park East Synagogue, located in Menin’s district. Mamdani, for his part, said that “sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.” Menin responded forcefully on X, stating, “Congregants must have the right to worship freely and to enter and exit their house of worship without impediment. Protests must have reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.”
Despite these differences, both leaders have signaled a willingness to collaborate where their agendas align. The city’s pressing affordability crisis, for instance, is a rare point of consensus. Menin has emphasized the need for universal childcare, lower rent, and reduced healthcare costs—policies that dovetail with Mamdani’s campaign promises. The challenge, of course, will be in the details: how to fund such programs, navigate entrenched interests, and keep the city’s diverse constituencies on board.
For those watching from afar, Mamdani’s victory has sparked excitement and debate about the future of socialism, social democracy, and progressive politics in the United States. Globetrotter urges supporters around the world not to merely cheer from the sidelines but to “join a left organization where you are (if you haven’t already) and help build it.” The lesson, as Subin Dennis puts it, is that real change requires sustained, organized effort—not just charismatic leaders or viral campaigns.
As New York City stands at this political crossroads, the coming months will test both the resolve of its new leaders and the power of the movements that brought them to office. The city’s next chapter promises to be as unpredictable as it is consequential.
