The rise of the democrat Mamdani driven by a diverse progressive movement, has transformed the race into a referendum on the political and economic direction of New Yorkand has aroused fierce criticism from the president Donald Trumpwho has described him as a “lunatic communist” and “well-born socialist.”
The latest surveys place Mamdani34 years old, with an advantage of between 10 and 20 points over the former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomowho goes as independent. In third place is Curtis Sliwacandidate of Republican Partywith a hard core of conservative voters.
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Surveys show that young voters overwhelmingly favor Mamdani, while Cuomo has a smaller lead among older voters.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey, 64% of registered New York voters ages 18 to 34 supports Mamdani; 20% to Cuomoand 7% to Sliwa.
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In the same survey, Mamdani It also has 50% support among voters from 35 to 49 years oldtwice as much as Cuomo.
Cuomo beats Mamdani among voters ages 50 to 64 with 41% preferences against 35%. While 17% opt for Sliwa.
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branch of branches of the branchesthroughout his campaign Mamdani It reached young people through social networks. In the last stretch, the Democrat chose to go door to door with an army of thousands of volunteers to publicize his progressive political program.
campaign promises
has proposed a housing reform strong that implies the expansion of the affordable housinggreater protection for tenants and rent freezing for certain cases.
As for the public transporthas promised to make city buses free for all users.
On the subject of healthoffers universal child care from six weeks of age to five years, free or highly subsidized for low- and middle-income families.
He has also proposed opening municipal supermarkets for the communities most in need, with affordable prices and a focus on healthy eating.
Furthermore, he wants increase corporate tax of the city to finance public programs.
Impose a 2% surcharge on the income of those who earn more than $1 million a year in the city.
Increase the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030.
Search expand free legal aid for immigrants (including those facing deportation) and reinforce New York City’s status as a sanctuary for immigrant communities.
The Democrats’ Dilemma
The campaign in New York has been marked by Trump’s attacks on Mamdani and his repeated threats to cut federal funds to the city. if he wins the elections.
The international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian considers that the rise of Zohran Mamdani has shaken the American political table.
“He is a person who openly claims to be a socialistwhich is a novelty in United States politics”explains Belaunde to The Commerce.
“In addition, it represents a new generation: a young politician who has managed to connect with younger voters and with broad popular sectors, thanks to a discourse focused on social justice and economic inequalities,” remark.
However, he maintains that his emergence has not only generated enthusiasm, since There is concern within the Democratic Party itself.
“Many Democrats fear that his figure, so identified with the left, will end up being counterproductive in next year’s legislative elections.. “Mandani arouses sympathy among disaffected voters, but also controversy in the traditional core of the party,” warns the expert.
The fact that the former governor Andrew Cuomo running as an independent has further fragmented the Democratic field. “It could be said that the party is going with two candidates, which reflects its dilemma between maintaining a pragmatic center or betting on a new left that Mandani embodies”, he claims.
However, He does not believe that a progressive current will end up predominating among Democrats throughout the country. “He has been able to emerge in New York. But that does not mean that candidates with these characteristics can also rise in other parts of the United States. So far it seems to me that it is a fairly local issue, but it can have repercussions.”
“We will have to see if the emergence of Mandani reinforces positions like that of Bernie Sanders, which are also quite on the left,” manifests.
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Regarding the position of the president of the United States, Belaunde says that “Trump criticizes everything that smells Democratic, but with Mandani the offensive is greater“He has called him a communist and openly questions his pro-Palestinian positions.”
“For Trump, figures like Mandani are a symbolic threat: they represent a progressive generation rooted in USAsomething that challenges its nationalist and conservative narrative”he notes.
If Mandani wins the mayoralty, a confrontation with the federal administration seems almost inevitable. “Trump has already shown that he can politically punish states and cities governed by Democratsthreatening to withdraw funds or even deploy federal forces,” warns Belaunde.
“In that context, A New York led by an openly socialist mayor could become the epicenter of a new political battle between Washington and the country’s big cities.he remarked.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
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Zohran Mamdani born in Uganda on October 18, 1991. He is the son of Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, a Ugandan of Indian origin. Both are Harvard alumni.
As a child he lived in Ugandathen his family temporarily moved to Cape Town, South Africa.
Mamdani came to New York at the age of seven. He attended public school at the Bronx High School of Science. In 2014 he earned his bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College (Maine), where he co-founded the university chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.
In 2018 he became a US citizen.
He was a rapper—under the name Mr. Cardamomo—and an activist before joining the Democratic Socialists of America, inspired by Bernie Sanders y Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
He lives in Astoria, Queens. He is married to Rama Duwaji28-year-old Syrian artist. They met on the dating app Hinge.
In the 2020 elections, Mamdani He was elected to the New York State Assembly representing the 36th district.
He has served on legislative committees focused on cities, housing, transportation, energy, immigrant and minority issues, among others.
In October 2024, Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor of New York. At that time he was considered an unknown with few possibilities. However, he won the Democratic primary over Cuomo with a resounding 56% of the vote. Today he is one step away from victory.