Sometimes, a compromise candidate can prove to be the best candidate. President James K. Polk is a case in point.
At the outset of the 1844 Democratic National Convention, Polk was a longshot twice defeated political candidate seeking his party’s vice presidential nomination. But when multiple ballots failed to produce a clear frontrunner for the presidential nomination, Polk was settled upon as a compromise candidate.
Historians widely regard Polk’s tenure as president as very effective, with some ranking him as the most successful single-term president in history. Polk’s candidacy also gave rise to a political phrase still used today: that of, the dark horse candidate. As the New York City mayoral race rapidly approaches, and candidates jockey to take on Zohran Mamdani, it would be wise to bear this piece of history in mind.
While Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams, and Curtis Sliwa don’t agree on much, one issue unites them. That is — Mamdani must not be the next mayor of New York. However, as the race currently stands, that result is starting to look increasingly inevitable.
With no candidate willing to step aside, Mamdani’s election is all but assured. Data shows that while he may not be able to beat a single candidate one-on-one; no candidate can beat him with four candidates in the race. Personal grievances and animosities that have accrued between the campaigns, however, make it difficult for any candidate to suspend their campaign and boost their rivals. Here’s where the option that no one is talking about comes in. Enter Jim Walden.
New Yorkers can be excused for never having heard of Walden. An asterisk in the polls with little name recognition, Walden’s campaign has been virtually ignored by opponents and the media alike.
In a race that includes a former governor and incumbent mayor with national reputations, a socialist frontrunner, and a combative former mayoral candidate toting a red beret, Walden’s relatively low-key temperament has seen his presence in the campaign diminished by his rivals. That contrast, however, may be precisely the reason that he is a good fit for New York.
New Yorkers are tired of the clown show. Most city dwellers long for a safe, prosperous, and affordable place to live, without any sideshows or distractions. They just want to be able to breathe freely, not worrying about what the next headline is going to bring. As a former assistant U.S. attorney with a distinguished record as a litigator, Walden can deliver that vision for New York.
His policy ideas reflect the priorities outlined above. He is committed to Broken Windows policing, weeding out public corruption, affordable housing, and stamping out antisemitism. A consummate professional, Walden has laid out in detail on his website how he will deliver on these policies, unlike other candidates who offer big plans but give little guidance as to how they will keep those promises.
While Walden has positioned himself as a technocratic manager who can govern the city efficiently, he still has some New York mojo. Despite his fear of heights, he went skydiving as a campaign stunt. This propensity for flair carries over to his platform: his proposed Shark Tank for NYC Kids, a plan to aid youth innovation, demonstrates his ability to tackle city issues with fresh thinking and new ideas.
Walden’s personal story is also an asset in this race, as he would vie with Mamdani to capture the city’s working-class population. His journey to becoming a candidate and successful attorney is one that would resonate with many voters.
Growing up in Levittown, Pa., he endured the torments of an alcoholic father, and moved out of his home after high school. He slept on the floor for a year, worked odd jobs, and faced many of the same challenges that ordinary New Yorkers confront. This background presents a sharp contrast with Mamdani who has admitted that he was able to leave his job because he could rely on parental support, a concept that the vast majority of New Yorkers do not relate to.
Unburdened by corruption, political rivalries, and intrigue, Walden can be the perfect compromise candidate who can save New York City from socialist ruin. More than a century and a half ago, another James became a compromise candidate, achieving great things for the United States. Today, Jim Walden can be that for New York, and — as he puts it with his campaign slogan — “bring back the Big Apple we love.”
Spiegel is the author of two books on Jewish history.