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.

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.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20260620173014/https://wtop.com/national/2026/06/mamdani-tests-his-political-clout-in-new-yorks-primary-as-he-looks-to-reshape-the-democratic-party/

  • madcaesar@lemmy.world
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    21 hours ago

    Democrats always pull the it’s time to come together card when they get into power.

    I used to naively think that is because they wanted to be adults and lead by example, but I’ve come to realize they do it because they are paid by the same donor class that doesn’t want them to push populist ideas.

    They’ll throw us bones from time to time like literarily just letting gays get equal rights, but actually fighting for the working class, they almost never do.

    We need to get rid of corporate Democrats, fuck they are basically Republicans from 2005, and replace them with leftist.

    • MJKee9@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      I didn’t start waking up until how I saw how the DNC handled Bernie. Your comment encapsulates my political journey and current ideology perfectly.