The election of 34-year-old Ugandan-born Zohran Mamdani as the Mayor of New York — a democratic socialist in America’s capitalist capital — is likely to have serious consequences for US politics in the coming days.
The victory is part of a bouquet of wins for the Democrats, who have President Donald Trump’s quixotic economic and social policies to thank for the moment. Yet, more than Mamdani’s triumph, it is the defeat of former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent backed by Trump, that should ring alarm bells for the Republican Party.
Notwithstanding the past controversies involving Mamdani — including his refusal to clarify whether Hamas should be disarmed — top Democratic leaders such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have hailed his victory. Many within the party were initially reluctant to endorse Mamdani because of his Muslim faith and his open pride in his Indian heritage. Their hoorays seem directed less at Mamdani’s ideology and more at what his win represents — a setback for Trump.
The Democrats’ elation is understandable when seen in the context of their recent gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey, where moderates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill comfortably defeated Republican rivals.
A cursory look at the Democrats’ election promises shows the tripping points of Trump’s domestic and international policies — and how they capitalised on these failings. New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world and houses 123 billionaires worth a combined $759 billion. It has topped global billionaire rankings for all but one of the past twelve years; in 2021, Beijing topped the list. Most of these fortunes come from finance (68), real estate (13), and fashion (12), while Moscow, in second place, hosts 90 billionaires worth $409 billion. The growth in billionaire residents pushed Moscow ahead of Hong Kong, which tied for the No. 2 city last year.
Also read: New York, New Comrade. Mayor Mamdani and his India-style socialism
Can Mumbai find its Mamdani?
Against Trump’s identity politics and anti-immigrant rhetoric, Mamdani foregrounded housing costs, unaffordable rent, broken public transit, and soaring living expenses — problems that would easily compete with a ramshackle city in an underdeveloped country.
Yet, Mamdani will face hurdles. As mayor, his powers are limited — much like Bill de Blasio, another left-leaning predecessor (2014–2021), who built over 200,000 affordable homes and introduced a $15 minimum wage to end New York’s “tale of two cities.” Mamdani must also deal with an extremely hostile president who has already threatened to cut federal aid to New York and made no secret of his dislike for the new mayor.
Are the days of Donald Trump as POTUS numbered? It’s too early to conclude that the Democratic Party is all set to storm the White House and unseat the torch-bearer of MAGA and tariff-wielding Trump. A deeper analysis of this overhyped election needs to be done to determine the extent of damage it would do to the Republican Party’s reputation and future prospects.
In the last presidential election, the Republican Party benefited from putting up Trump against a tired, lacklustre incumbent (Joe Biden) who abdicated the campaign to make room for a relatively weak candidate, Kamala Harris. Additionally, his Make America Great Again (MAGA) slogan became a rallying cry. The attempt on his life added a wave of sympathy. It is doubtful whether these advantages will exist in the next presidential election. The party will surely need to rediscover issues that resonate with people’s real concerns — much as Mamdani did in New York.
However, Democrats cannot mistake one city’s victory for a national mandate. As the Republicans might do a course-correction, the Democrats too will have to come forward with a strong, alternative narrative. Such a narrative must include pro-immigration reform, open policies for scholars and Silicon Valley workforce, and a trade-friendly approach towards India, replacing Trump’s punishing tariff regime.
Finally, Mamdani’s win should also be an eye-opener for Indian city planners and politicians. As cities like Mumbai grow richer, they also become unaffordable for the very residents who contribute to its wealth creation. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation — India’s richest civic body with a Rs 74,427-crore budget for 2025–26 — heads for elections soon. It will be worth watching whether parties in Mumbai raise the same issues that resonated in Mamdani’s New York — housing, affordability, and dignity for the working class.
Seshadri Chari is the former editor of ‘Organiser’. He tweets @seshadrichari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)