WASHINGTON (TNDD) — New York City Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has been hailed as the future of American politics by Vanity Fair in an extensive cover piece following his primary election victory.
Earlier this year, Mamdani won the mayoral New York City Democratic primary, defeating his opponents in the city’s ranked-choice voting system. One of the prominent opponents he defeated was former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams was running for re-election, but dropped out of the race. Cuomo is still running for mayor as an Independent while candidate Curtis Sliwa is running as a Republican. The general election is Nov. 4.
Vanity Fair described the 33-year-old politician as someone with “Kennedy-like charisma” who may be able to win over the support of the “multiracial working class” which has been the base of the Democratic Party for years.
Mamdani often repeats common socialist talking points like “tax the rich” and built a successful coalition of younger voters. Any dreams for the highest office are out of reach, since he was born in Uganda, he won’t be able to run for president. He’s gained the support of younger Democratic leaders such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while Cuomo has the support of former Democratic mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.
While Mamdani has a boots-on-the-ground grassroots campaign, he does have the support of some celebrities, including singer Lorde and actors Morgan Spector and Emily Ratajkowski.
Another reason he was able to win the Democratic primary was due to his campaign reaching the Muslim voters by relating to them as a migrant and being pro-Palestine amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Mamdani’s campaign focused on what Vanity Fair called “a relentless focus on affordability.”
“What I’ve loved about this campaign is that when New Yorkers approach me, they often say the policy that we’re fighting for back to me,” he told the magazine.
“And as we expand this coalition, we do so without giving an inch on any of these commitments.”
Three of the main policies Mamdani campaigned on were free bussing, the freezing of rent and free childcare.
When speaking with the Vanity Fair reporter, he said that his goal is that businesses stay in New York City and that they can be innovated to attract a young workforce.
“I absolutely think we can reach each and every New Yorker,” Mamdani said. “And have conversations and go out into neighborhoods where we did not win that vote, where we are engaging with skepticism and questions, if not even downright opposition.”
Mamdani isn’t the only up-and-coming democrat from New York featured in the fashion magazine.
In 2020, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez appeared on the cover of the magazine for the December issue.