Last night, Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old, Muslim, Democratic Socialist from Astoria, was elected Mayor of New York City, defeating Democrat-turned-Independent and verified creep Andrew Cuomo, again, and red-beret-donning, cat-clutching perennial Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, running on a platform that centered affordability for working class residents.
Though he won just 50.4% of total votes cast, his election represents a major victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, as many top party officials chose to endorse his candidacy only at the eleventh hour, if at all. Though Mamdani frequently went viral for his savvy use of video on social media, his grassroots campaign mobilized thousands of volunteers across the city, with the campaign claiming to have knocked on 3 million doors by Election Day.
At 34, Mamdani will be the first Muslim mayor of New York City, and the youngest in over a century, prompting many to deem him the future of the Democratic Party.
Two very different New York publications catering to two very different audiences highlighted the polarizing effect Mamdani has had on the NYC electorate, and the broader political discourse:
Elected officials from the party’s progressive wing and through to its center congratulated Mamdani for his victory, albeit some more reservedly than others.
All eyes were on the accounts of the celebrities and elites who had vehemently opposed his candidacy, often deploying racism and Islamophobia in the name of attacking antisemitism.
Bill Ackman, the billionaire notorious for his page-length tweets, wisely knew to take the L.
Maybe my favorite crashout from the night came from the fresh-from-prison diva George Santos, who spent the last week calling on Sliwa to drop out and endorse Cuomo.
In his fiery victory speech, Mamdani spoke to his Democratic Socialist values, and took swings at both Cuomo and Donald Trump.
Continued in Part 2.
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