Brooklynites rejoiced and Wall Street conglomerates wept as Zohran Mamdani, the underdog New York City mayoral candidate, was elected last Tuesday. I first became aware of Mamdani’s campaign from listening to NYC-based comedy podcast Seeking Derangements, hosted by disgraced (but hilarious) Bernie Sanders 2020 staffer Ben Mora. As the podcasters described a successful campaign event held in Manhattan in March 2025, I initially dismissed the large turnout as a fluke: no one but Bushwick progressives would actually accept Mamdani as a serious candidate. But I thought wrong—Mamdani’s grassroots effort was probably the most successful political campaign of the last few years, undeniable proof that there is a young American electorate tired of the boomers.
But what strikes me most about Mamdani is that, regardless of his politics, he is profoundly charismatic: even my friend who was scared of Mamdani’s potential embrace of anti-semitic rhetoric admitted that she found his social media presence charming. To many young Americans, he is the first likeable politician since Barack Obama. It is not the case that people voted for Mamdani because he was merely better than the alternative, like they did with Kamala Harris in 2024 or Donald Trump in 2016. (Although to many, a fresh face was much more appealing than the corrupt Eric Adams and the creepy Andrew Cuomo.) Instead, voters loved him because he represents an American politics that isn’t burdened by antiquated establishment politicians. He makes promises (and let’s be clear: for now, they’re just promises) that politicians can use their power to support young Americans.
Mamdani still has a ways to go. He will need to make compromises with the New York real estate developers and business owners who fear his proposed corporate tax hike of 11.5 percent, which requires New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s approval. The tax hike also concerns New Jersey residents who work in New York City, who did not vote but would be affected—and angered—by the potential tax hike. Running New York won’t be easy, and Mamdani’s concessions to the city’s wealthy constituents could frustrate his more ardent socialist supporters. But in order to maintain his momentum, and perhaps bid for a larger role in American politics later on, Mamdani must surrender on some economic issues.
Cautiously,
Elizabeth Eck
Image: Edouard Manet, A Matador, oil on canvas, 1866-7, (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).