What Do You Make of Mamdani?
Danny Gilbertson, Ryan Sheppard, Seb Longridge, Cianan Sheekey, and Connor Summerell
23/11/25
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PRESIDENT TRUMP AND NYC MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI, IMAGE: WHITE HOUSE
What Mamdani Does Different
Contributor
New York City has a new mayor. Mamdani is 34 years old, of Indian heritage, a Muslim, an immigrant, and a Democratic Socialist. Mamdani has quickly become the poster boy of the progressive left across the world, with his simple policies, strong stances, and charismatic smile, helping him mobilise over a million voters in New York’s 2025 Mayoral Election.
Domestically, it came as a shock result. Mamdani “toppled a political dynasty”, to use his own words, in beating independent Cuomo, the suspected favourite by many. Plus, he did this without a great deal of enthusiasm from the Democratic Party old guard, and a campaign funded largely by small individual donations and little-to-no large sums of corporate money, which is all the more impressive considering Cuomo received the typical ‘big money’ business donations that one would expect from old-fashioned US politics.
Mamdani ran on a ticket of affordability, an issue ranked consistently highly among New Yorkers. He has managed to steer clear of the usual pitfalls of the left in talking about grandiose ideas and vague policy directions and has come out strong with flagship policies of free public buses, city-run grocery stores, and rent freezes. All of which appealed greatly to the working-class voters of New York, who have been disillusioned with the monotony of urban neoliberal politics that has become all too common in recent decades.
Mamdani has set New York up as the petri dish of a new urban, progressive left-wing politics in a world veering frighteningly to the right, and now the world, as well as his city, waits in anticipation to see how his mayoralty will unfurl.
Mamdani May Have Won New York, but His Ideas Won't Win Over the Country
Contributor
Although it was an impressive and ultimately successful campaign from Mamdani, the idea that this should be replicated nationwide and by other struggling centre-left parties such as Labour would massively backfire. Yes, an effectively communicated media strategy and a boldness of ideas (which has been lacking for some time) from the centre ground is the only way to defeat populism, but copying the strategy nationwide would be folly for the Democrats if they intend to defeat MAGA, particularly in the 2028 Presidential Election.
The reason for this is simple: New York is a diverse, liberal city that is solid Democrat territory. Ideas such as rent controls resonate due to the extortionate rises in housing costs within the city. However, in the critical swing states that will determine the outcome of the next Presidential election, these ideas will not swing the pendulum away from the terrifying prospect of a third term for MAGA, probably under Vance. In fact, it would only embolden MAGA supporters, with accusations such as ‘communists’ being branded in the Democrats' direction if ideas such as rent controls became national policy. Like William Jennings Bryan and George McGovern before, the 2028 candidate shifting the Democrats leftward would not be well received, and the grip of populism would only further integrate into an already broken system.
MAMDANI SPEAKS AT A RALLY, IMAGE: INFORMEDIMAGES
Mamdani Succeeded Because of His Allegiance to NYC
Contributor
Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral election has largely been perceived as a victory for the left and Democratic Socialism; however, I think there is more to the success and popularity of Mamdani than his left-wing economic ideas. Despite his charming charisma and ability to present his arguments boldly and effectively, I believe Mamdani’s attractiveness to voters comes less from his policies and even his charisma, but from his bold emphasis on his allegiance to New York and New Yorkers over individual billionaires, foreign nations, and even the President.
Despite being on opposite ends of the political spectrum, the attraction to Trump shares similar themes to the attraction to Mamdani, with rhetoric of putting Americans, or New Yorkers, ‘first’ rather than the sentiment voters share of politicians putting individuals or other nations before Americans. 60,000 of Mamdani’s voters switched to him from voting for Trump in 2024, demonstrating that there are forces beneath mere ‘left’ or ‘right’ policies that are guiding American elections – rather than voting for a set of ideas, the American voter appears to choose whoever pledges to honour the average American’s interests.
Whatever You Think of Mamdani, He's Revolutionised Political Campaigning
Managing Editor
While there is certainly something to be said for the fact that Mamdani’s victory could not be replicated nationwide, his campaigning tactics should redefine how political movements are structured. This isn’t solely about his mastery of social media, either, as leftists and righties alike can superbly pick that lock (think Farage across the pond), but a knack for online communication combined with a vigorous grassroots effort.
Momentum is crucial in present-day politics, and the relentless persistence and personability of a two-pronged campaign of comedic, shareable digital content and passionate, door-knockers is a force that will be almost impossible to beat if paired with a desirable platform for voters.
Mamdani’s campaign was something new, and while he will likely claim it's his policies that won over New Yorkers, they matter only so far as you have clear and effective communication with voters. From that perspective, Mamdani’s campaign is a model that all future political candidates should diligently study.
It’ll be fascinating to see if he can carry this brilliance into office, though, given the impracticality of his policies, it would seem doubtful.
MAMDANI AND TRUMP IN THE OVAL OFFICE, IMAGE: THE WHITE HOUSE
Mamdani is the Democrats' Answer to Trump
Contributor
In normal times, a democratic victory in the New York mayoral race would be unremarkable. However, in the era of Trump, nothing is so mundane. Mamdani’s victory in the recent mayoral election is by no means as remarkable as his victory in the primary, but it marks yet another step on the path toward the total Trumpification of American politics.
His radical and populist tendencies would not be out of place in the modern Republican party, even if his policy platform and appeals to hope over fear would. His authenticity is a model to all politicians who still behave as if they were in the America of Obama and Romney, where professionalism and presentability were key. Democrats should celebrate this new talent and wish him nothing but success in running America’s largest city. More importantly, on a national level, they must use his campaign as a blueprint not in terms of policy but rather to ensure the candidates they run suit their electorate, relate to their communities on a human level and provide hope in these dark times.
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