How Zohran Mamdani Has Shaken US Politics

The remarkable thing is that Zohran Mamdani is not even the mayor of New York yet. He has won the primaries to be the Democratic Party candidate when the election happens later this year but already much of the political establishment, the opposition Republicans and elements within his own party are in a state of anxiety. The accusations they make against him range from being an Islamist to a Communist. And yet the import of what he has done is becoming increasingly clear. In the post -Trump era, where the opposition had become faceless, a 33-year-old with very little experience in public life, had captured the imagination of the youth desperate for an alternative.

Consider that one Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican, has already moved to deport Mamdani even though he is a citizen. To do that the means to be employed is a process called denaturalization, which in turn can be invoked for supporting terrorists. Meanwhile, on the other hand, leading businessmen met Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor who is a Democrat but then turned against his own party after corruption allegations. They are afraid of what Mamdani’s stated positions would do to their bottom-line and want to support Adams who is running as an independent.

New York is the most important city in the United States and Mamdani’s victory was because of the simple messages of his campaign–he would freeze rent, build affordable housing and give free bus rides. The money for that would come from increasing tax on corporates and millionaires. He was trailing far behind Andrew Cuomo, a former Governor and one the pillars of the party before a sexual harassment scandal forced him out. Becoming mayor was going to be his comeback vehicle and he had the party machinery behind him.

As the campaign heated up, Mamdani unexpectedly started shooting up in the polls, largely driven by astute use of social media. He had natural charisma, which made voters relate to him. Coupled with the populist planks, by the time the primary election date came, he was ahead in polls but still the result was a shock to the system. Cuomo is now planning to run as an independent against him in the mayoral election.

Many compare Mamdani’s appeal to that which made Donald Trump the president–an ability to talk directly to people and come across as not just another political mouthpiece. But he has handicaps that Trump did not have. Being a Muslim in a Christian country means he can only do such magic in a cosmopolitan city like New York. Also, with a socialist message, businesses would be antagonistic to him and that would mean funding hurdles. He however has other popular leaders with a similar ideology, like Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, behind him. The probability of him becoming mayor is very high and when it happens, it would be a historic first for New York. It will also shake up the Democratic Party still reeling from the loss against Trump. Other leaders might realise what it takes to get the public behind them.

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