26 June 2025 - What Zohran Mamdani’s Win Means for the Future of the Democratic Party
Zohran Mamdani offered New Yorkers a political revolution – and won
Bhaskar Sunkara (The Guardian, 26/06/2025)
Zohran Mamdani’s triumph in New York City’s Democratic primary represents more than just an electoral upset. It’s a confirmation that progressive politics, when pursued with discipline, vision and vigor, can resonate broadly – even in a city known for its entrenched power structures. This was no ordinary primary. Andrew Cuomo, a former governor whose political fall from grace seemed irreparable only a few years ago, had positioned himself as the overwhelming favorite. Backed by millions from corporate interests, super PACs, and billionaire donors such as Michael Bloomberg and Bill Ackman, Cuomo relied heavily on institutional inertia and top-down endorsements. Yet Tuesday night, it became clear that this alone couldn’t carry him across the finish line.
What Zohran Mamdani’s primary win in New York means for Democrats nationwide
Amna Nawaz, Doug Adams and Ian Couzen (PBS News, 25/06/2025)
In a stunning upset, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani won last night's Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Final results won't be official for several days, but his win has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. Mamdani spoke to supporters late last night. Zohran Mamdani (D), New York City Mayoral Candidate: If this campaign has demonstrated anything to the world,it is that our dreams can become reality. Dreaming demands hope. And when I think of hope, I think of the unprecedented coalition of New Yorkers that we have built…
‘New Yorkers have been betrayed’: can Zohran Mamdani become the most progressive mayor in the city’s history?
Ed Pilkington (The Guardian, 21/06/2025)
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is huddling with advisers surrounded by agitated protesters, New York police department (NYPD) officers and lines of metal barriers penning us in. An hour ago Brad Lander, the elected comptroller of New York who is running against Mamdani in the race to become the city’s next mayor, was arrested by masked agents of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as he accompanied an individual out of immigration court. Video shows the agents shoving Lander against a wall, handcuffing him, and scuffling him away. The incident has clearly rattled Mamdani. He looks tense, and when greeted by supporters his trademark beaming smile is replaced by a tight grin.
Will Zohran Mamdani’s Housing Plan Actually Work in New York City?
Allaire Conte (Realtor, 25/06/2025)
Last night, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist, secured a shocking victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, beating out former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani is running on a sweeping housing platform that has struck a chord with young and working-class voters as well as the city’s immigrant communities—many of whom have borne the brunt of New York City’s affordability crisis. These residents were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic-era whiplash: first, when rents dropped and vacancies surged as wealthier New Yorkers left the city; and again, when prices skyrocketed as they returned.
Will the Democrats learn from Zohran Mamdani’s victory?
Bernie Sanders (The Guardian, 26/06/2025)
The Democratic party is at a crossroads. It can continue to push policies that maintain a broken and rigged economic and political system and ignore the pain of the 60% of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck. It can turn its back on the dreams of a younger generation which, if we don’t change that system, will likely be worse off than their parents. It can continue to depend upon billionaire donors and out-of-touch campaign consultants and spend huge amounts of money on dumb 30-second ads that fewer and fewer people respond to.
