Not long ago, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was demonized by leaders of both political parties. On Thursday night, the 34-year-old democratic socialist was celebrated as a political force, the face of the region’s sports renaissance, even the leader of “Mamdanistan.”
In a rally with Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that drew thousands to a Brooklyn theater, the emboldened mayor delivered a fiery message to Democratic leaders in Washington — and even those considering 2028 presidential bids — as he worked to elevate a slate of likeminded candidates in Tuesday’s New York primaries.
“People often ask me what I think of the state of the Democratic Party. This slate here today is our answer,” Mamdani declared. “The Democratic Party must change.”
“The party of the past will not be what leads us into the future. We need a Democratic Party with backbone.”
He shared the stage with three congressional candidates, including two running against Democratic incumbents. All three identify, or have identified, as democratic socialists. They promised to “abolish ICE,” condemned the “genocide” in Israel and vowed to “tax the rich” if elected.
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Mamdani endorsed political organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier over Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York’s 13th District, which includes parts of upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
Mamdani is also backing former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running against incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th District. And in New York’s 7th, he’s supporting democratic socialist state Assembly Member Claire Valdez against outgoing Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s handpicked successor.
Setting aside that you’re just pretending your poll is right and mine is wrong, what do you think this poll says that supports “people won’t support abolish”? Because giving a third option with reforms doesn’t change that outright abolish is more popular than not. It’s not an electoral loser. Especially in the demographics that vote for Democrats.
It shows that it’s better for Democrats to favor reforming ICE rather than abolishing it. Democrats have to also win in red states.
So having been just wrong about whether abolish was a minority position and claiming Mamdani can’t represent the Democratic party, now you’ve moved the goalposts to “the person who represents the Democratic party, should appeal to Republicans”.
If only we’d had multiple examples of mealy-mouthed centrists losing to an extremist representing his party’s base. Maybe being successful at politics isn’t actually about trying to tack as hard to the center as possible with watered down positions.
Democrats should appeal to independents and some Republicans. If Democrats just win in deep blue areas, they’re not getting anywhere.
This thread literally started with demonstrating that “abolish ICE” is the preferred choice over “keep ICE the same”. It’s not an issue that turns off voters. The whole theory that triangulating centrism that says nothing so as to never turn off a voter had failed. Multiple times now. Your theory of politics is wrong.