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Zohran Mamdani has won the race for New York City mayor, according to Decision Desk HQ, ushering in a new era of progressive politics in the city and reigniting the debate over the Democratic Party’s future.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is poised to become the first millennial and first Muslim to lead New York City, after a campaign that pulled off one of the most stunning political upsets in recent memory. He defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who mounted a long-shot independent bid after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in his bid to succeed Mayor Eric Adams.

Mamdani focused heavily on affordability, pledging to freeze rent, establish city-owned grocery stores and make buses free for riders. He quickly became a progressive icon as well as a polarizing figure within the party over his positions, so much so that it divided prominent New York Democratic leadership over whether to endorse him.

  • NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip
    2·
    1 day ago

    Yeah. I am generally not too confident on Kat’s chances but she 100% knows how the game is played and is doing everything right. But also? Her district is pretty safe either way. I would rather more progressive voices but it isn’t like there is the risk of losing it to the republicans (… if there are elections).

    But there are two aspects to this:

    First? It is the fucking primaries. This is when you get all the yahoos out there to actually talk about what The People want but have no chance of getting in America. Get people interested, see what platforms work, and so forth. And when someone wins? Have EVERYONE endorse them. Don’t play the game of “I should have won” and instead actually get concessions on some of the more iffy policy and make damned sure the people who Believed get back out there in November.

    But also? Democrats might get a short term victory if they focus purely on “who can win”. We saw the DNC try that with showcasing liz fucking cheney and we see the efforts in maine to put the full force of progressivism and the DNC behind a fucking nazi who worked for blackwater but pinky swears he’ll vote for medicare for all before getting drinks with fetterman. And… the DNC picked the wrong chud but Lil Skorzeny would sweep the parts of Maine that still fly the confederate flag (so… most of it) handily.

    But… all that does is alienate the people the Left actually is supposed to fight for. And when both parties are evil hateful chuds… all you really get are “I want something different”. Biden won because he wasn’t trump in 2020. And trump won because he wasn’t Biden in 2024. That’s fine if all you care about is the color of the flag on election night. Not so much if you actually care about the country and the people around you.

    And that is why we need to support these candidates who, for lack of a more entertaining term, give a shit. AOC does less picket line work these days but she is constantly speaking for The People and directly speaking to her constituents (and those of us who wish we were) near constantly. Same with Mamdani who is rocking the gay bars and taxi queues in between speeches. And Kat is out there on the picket lines getting her ass beat. Combine that with moderately firm platforms and… all those people who know they SHOULD vote for the nazi with a blue flag because it will buy their loved ones a few more years of life? They suddenly start getting back out to vote.

    And… look, don’t give up a battleground state. But if you are going to lose either way (or, better yet, win either way)? Fuck it, let’s make people care. Because when they go out to vote for the House or Senate candidate who fundamentally can’t win? They are also voting down ballot… and maybe even up ballot. And, over time… that is how Georgia got pretty blue.