Originally reported by CNN
It wasn’t long ago that Andrew Cuomo—once New York’s top Democrat—was planning a comeback. But this week, he bowed out of the mayoral race after losing to Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist whose campaign blended TikTok-style charisma, anti-Israel rhetoric, and far-left policy dreams.
And now, with Mamdani poised to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of the nation’s largest city, the Democratic establishment is having a full-blown identity crisis.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
A self-described socialist, Mamdani represents a slice of Queens in the state assembly and rose to prominence through protest politics, hunger strikes, and social media. He’s the son of a Columbia professor and a Bollywood filmmaker. He once rapped under the name Mr. Cardamom. And if elected, he’d be New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
But critics say Mamdani’s rise is anything but feel-good.
He has:
-
Accused Israel of genocide,
-
Defended the slogan “globalize the intifada,”
-
Blamed America’s political establishment for provoking Iran,
-
And called for free buses, city-subsidized groceries, and massive tax hikes on the wealthy—despite having no authority to enact them as mayor.
Even CNN notes the growing “consternation” among Democrats. One progressive strategist warned Mamdani’s win would be “a devastating blow in the fight to defeat Trumpism.” Others fear national Democrats could be “painted as out of touch” with working-class Americans.
Matt Bennett of the centrist think tank Third Way didn’t mince words:
“Even if [Mamdani] doesn’t win the election, just winning the Democratic nomination can hurt Democrats.”
Andrew Cuomo, during a recent debate, summed up what many centrists were thinking:
“He’s never done any of the essentials. Now you have Donald Trump on top of that? He’ll go through Mamdani like a hot knife through butter.”
Mamdani’s response? He doubled down—slamming Cuomo’s past scandals and reminding voters:
“I’ve never had to resign in disgrace. I have never hounded 13 women. I have never sued for their gynecological records. I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.”
But the deeper concern lies in Mamdani’s rhetoric on Israel and antisemitism.
He’s used the term intifada to describe Palestinian resistance, angering Jewish leaders and even the U.S. Holocaust Museum. He claims it’s about “equality.” His critics say it incites violence. Mamdani’s campaign now proposes an 800% increase in anti-hate crime funding—but many say it’s too little, too late.
He’s also claimed that his photo was altered in campaign mailers to make him look more threatening—a charge Cuomo’s team denies.
Even after his emotional press conference where he cried over the threats he’s received, the core concern remains: Is this the future of the Democratic Party?
Because the warning signs are flashing. Loudly.
Mamdani’s platform is being praised by the same progressive machine that gave us AOC and Bernie Sanders. He’s been endorsed by both. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told a crowd of 2,000:
“This race isn’t just about New York. It’s about the future of our country.”
They’re not hiding it anymore. Mamdani’s campaign has raised $7 million. He’s got celebrity endorsements. He’s the face of a movement. But it’s a movement that wants to defund the police, raise your taxes, dismantle America’s alliances, and weaponize identity politics as city policy.
And yet, establishment Democrats are frozen. Some are cautiously congratulating him. Others, like Schumer and Jeffries, are offering vague praise. Even Bill Clinton wished him “success.”
That’s the playbook now—appease the radicals and hope the voters don’t notice.
But we noticed. And we’re not looking away.
Read the original CNN article here.
