Mamdani charmed not only Democratic supporters in fresh York City but besides Republican U.S. president Donald Trump.This year's election for mayor of fresh York will be history. Their course was reported on a regular basis and followed by people around the world. Millions displayed and lashed publications in social media, especially 1 of the candidates. There were besides many controversy due to the origin and political views of the fresh Yorker favorite. Who's Zohran Mamdani? And what can his triumph mean for Democrats and the United States?
Zohran Mamdani is simply a 34-year-old American Democratic organization politician and social activist. It is closely related to the largest city in the United States – fresh York. As of 2021, he belonged to the lower Chamber of the fresh York State Legislative Authority. In November, he was highly successful in winning elections for mayor of his beloved city. He became the youngest since 1892, mayor of that metropolis, as well as the first Muslim in past in that position.
His run was not an easy undertaking due to prejudice by American society. The first controversy sparked Ugandan-Indian origin of young politics. He was born in Uganda, a household of Indian immigrants. He has only had American citizenship for 7 years, which was pointed out to him by more conservative politicians. This sparked interest, among others, in Donald Trump, who, as quoted by ABC News in an interview with journalists, said that many people undermine Mamdan's citizenship. He said, "We gotta look at everything."
The second issue is spiritual confession. Mamdani is simply a Shiite Muslim, to which he openly admits in interviews and entries on social media. At the end of the campaign, he organized a press conference under a mosque in the fresh York Bronx district. During her course, he criticized his rivals in the election race for spreading hatred for his religion.
(No)Popular views
Mamdani declares himself a democratic socialist. During the campaign, he focused on economical issues related to the standard of living. Among another things, he proposed to rise taxes for the wealthiest to finance social programmes. He is besides curious in housing, especially municipal housing in fresh York City.
The mayor-elect of fresh York is besides referred to as an activist for Palestine. He publically condemned the actions of the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip, openly calling them genocide. During the election campaign, he besides mentioned equality and human rights on many occasions. He has so besides committed himself to strengthening and defending the rights of LGBTQ+ community. "New York City must be a repuge for LGBTQIA+ people – this is how Zohran Mamdani wrote in 1 of his posts.
The Democratic candidate stands out against the remainder of this party's politicians. His openly socialist views were inactive late on the margins of American political life. "There is no uncertainty that the nomination by the Democratic organization itself was a immense surprise to Zohran Mamdan. Undoubtedly, respective factors have determined his success. First: the age – young and hit, alienating this youth from many prominent politicians present not only of the Democratic organization but besides of the Republican organization – thus corresponded to the social request for generational change. Secondly, his ability to formulate the program clearly and unambiguously, relating to matters powerfully affecting voters' awareness in fresh York City (free buses, free kindergartens, rent freeze, etc.). It was specific, extremist and “unable”. Let us add that populist, but who does not like specified promises, who does not like the language of passion, the fight against costly or crime. This is due to the 3rd factor: the departure from ideological, cultural, social (conducted "revolutionary" campaigns of the "Me Too" type), which have dominated the debate in the US in fresh years, and in which the dispute clearly on 1 side (not at least progressive) was argued by Donald Trump, winning the presidential election twice. Mamdani, on the another hand, chose material and life-related issues, applicable to everyone, and not only to selected groups or minorities, did not power the progressive wings clearly, nevertheless he did not cut himself off from it – says Prof. Jadwig Kiwersk. – Fourth: the advantage of making easy contact with voters and thus alleged social hearing, as well as directness, the ability to mingle in the crowd, going out with announcements to voters on the street, in supermarkets, squares and squares, which in NYC abound. Fifth: contrary to popular opinion, the multicultural origin of Mamdani can be his asset, especially in specified a highly diversified fresh York. Born in Uganda, a Muslim of Indian origin, although deprived of the judaic component (important in NYC), but gaining sympathy from fresh Yorkers, more and more colorful and in various shades, not only blacks, the investigator continues.
Voice from the White House
In the election, Mamdango's 2 main opponents were Andrew Cuomo (started as an independent but formally owned Democratic Party) and Curtis Sliwa (of the Republican Party). Cuomo is the erstwhile politician of fresh York, accused of sexual harassment. Donald Trump, during his 60 minutes speech, said, "I'm not a Cuomo fan in any direction, but if I gotta choose between a bad politician and a Communist (Mamdan), frankly, I will always choose the incorrect Democrat." Since the beginning of the campaign, the president of the United States has shown his negative attitude towards a 34-year-old. However, it seems that relations between the 2 politicians began to improve after their gathering at the White House, held on November 21.
"It should be remembered that NYC is not the full America, nevertheless the diversity of this city is clear, as is its tendency to support the Democratic Party, liberalism, freedom and progressiveism. Mamdan's win here is little amazing than it would be in any city, for example, the “Bible Belt”. So it cannot be ruled out on this basis that America has had adequate Trump, although it surely likes it less. specified a real, first test in 2026 will be the alleged mid-terms, i.e. elections to the home of Representatives and legislature (partial) – possibly then we should focus more on younger ones. However, fresh York, voting for a democratic socialist, muddy by Trump, surely expressed his attitude towards the President-in-Office. But let's emphasise, in fresh York it's not surprising, it fits in fresh York – says Prof. Jadwig Kiwerska. Although Mamdani himself will never be able to run for president of the United States, his triumph in the fresh York elections may have an crucial impact on possible changes on the political phase overseas.
"However, it must be noted at the same time that experience with the selection of Mamdan may service as a clue as to how the establishment of the Democratic organization should find the further direction of its activity, which in subsequent campaigns, including the most crucial – presidential one, should draw attention to what to emphasize. Shouldn't it be material and individual problems, alternatively than exclusive hanging around disputes about abortion, LGBT rights, etc.? First of all, the better sense of trends depends on who will be the winner in 2026 and 2028. The choice of Mamdan, who, however, will never compete in the race for the White House, should not only be a reason to rejoice that the Democrats succeeded, but a confirmation of these trends – concludes Prof. Jadwig Kiwersk.
There's inactive quite a few time left in the United States for the next major election decisions. An election run in 1 of the largest cities in the United States and its results can nevertheless set fresh trends in the rivalry between Democrats and Republicans.
Nicole KRAKOWSKA
