A political earthquake shook New York City last week. For some, Zohran Mamdani’s win in the Democratic primary for mayor was a shock. For those paying attention, it was a culmination of something that has been building – not a break but an opportunity for change.
In seven months, Mamdani went from relative obscurity to frontrunner, beating the former governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite being outspent by outside groups and without significant name recognition at the outset, he won. A focused campaign centred on a message that resonated with voters: “New York is too expensive. Zohran will lower costs and make life easier.” Rent, childcare, travel and groceries. He spoke to and heard the many New Yorkers who feel they’re falling behind.
As someone who has been a part of four presidential campaigns, ranging from Obama to Harris, and was Joe Biden’s White House political director for the past four years, I know it wasn’t just what Mamdani said.
It was how he said it, where he said it – and how he campaigned. He walked the13-mile length of Manhattan. He went on podcasts like Odd Lots, The Breakfast Club and Pod Save America. His campaign posted video shorts on YouTube, X and TikTok. He participated in TV and radio interviews. He spoke to voters in their languages – not always perfectly, but with effort and humility. He got caught trying. He sounded like a neighbour, not a politician. People listened.
Yes, he’s exciting. Yes, he’s young and has got the energy to prove it. But more importantly he was clear about whose side he was on: theirs.
He had the support of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but also the major New York unions: the United Auto Workers, the Teamsters, and others. One of the strongest endorsements he received was from fellow candidate and NYC Cc comptroller, Brad Lander. Opponents threw everything at him – accusations of anti-Semitism, concerns about his age and lack of management experience; we worked to build relationships, answer concerns and mobilised leaders like Lander who could vouch for him. He built a broad coalition, and he was rewarded for it. More than 400,000 voters selected him as their first choice.
While final results are still being tabulated, Mamdani is projected to cross the 50% threshold in ranked-choice voting quickly, already surpassing 43% as voters’ first choice. To give some context here, during the 2021 primary, the current mayor Eric Adams received 31% of first-ranking votes and took eight rounds of ranked-choice voting to secure the nomination.
Mamdani’s campaign didn’t just post viral TikToks or win the media discourse – it knocked on 1.5m door
So, what can Democrats learn from this?
First, when Democrats run bold candidates who speak clearly about lowering costs and fighting for working people, voters respond. Mamdani’s campaign didn’t just post viral TikToks or win the media discourse – it knocked on 1.5m doors. He showed up everywhere. His campaign married digital savvy with old-school organising to powerful effect.
Second, a Mamdani may not win in every locale, but that doesn’t mean conflict. In Virginia, Democrats have Abigail Spanberger running for governor, and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. Both are fighting to lower costs, make communities safer and protect people’s rights. We don’t need uniformity – we need unity and consensus around fighting for positive change and collective power.
Worried that nominating a “socialist” might jeopardise other Democrats in the field, some Democrats have rushed to distance themselves. There are good reasons to be nervous – there is too much on the line. However, some have attacked him before our opponents could. This is the wrong reaction.
This moment is not a crisis – it’s an opportunity for needed change. Voters hunger for something new. While Democrats have been slow to embrace change, Mamdani can act as a bridge between what has been and what could be.
The Democratic party is a big tent. We can win in deep blue cities, in purple suburbs and even in red states like Kentucky and Kansas. The lesson from New York isn’t to run Mamdani-style campaigns everywhere – it’s to run excellent, locally resonant candidates and campaigns everywhere. To recruit great candidates, support our nominees and stay focused on what matters: defeating Donald Trump and the dangerous movement he leads.
We don’t have time for circular firing squads. We need to be building the strongest possible campaign infrastructure, the tools and tactics we know to work – in every medium, from doors to digital – to reach voters. We need candidates who will fight for working people, and campaigns worthy of the voters we seek to represent.
If there’s one takeaway it’s this: voters are paying attention. They are engaged. And when they believe we’re fighting for them, they show up.
We can, and will, win again. But only if we stay united, focus on the task at hand, and remember who the real opposition is.
Photograph by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
