If you, as a college student, haven’t been paying any attention to American politics lately, you need to start tuning in, because the political scene today is reaching 1960s levels of political instability. The 2025 New York City mayoral election has become one of the most notable elections in recent history. Why is this? Well, Zohran Mamdani is the Democratic candidate, and he’s promoting himself as a “democratic socialist.” Why is this label so important to current American politics? Why is the NYC mayoral election so important in the first place?
Though early voting has already started (and I hope you’ve cast your votes wherever you’re from), the mayoral election in New York City will be decided on November 4. Looking at early polls, it seems that Mamdami, the Democratic-elect, has a very good chance at taking over as mayor of NYC. First of all, why is this election so important? New York City is more than just a city, it’s an economic and social powerhouse. NYC holds and is the center for trading a large majority of the world’s wealth. Its geographic location is also a gateway for the flow of migration in and out of North America, creating the most populated city in America and a rich community of boroughs consisting of groups of people from different backgrounds, religions, economic levels, and cultures. With such a rich city, the mayor of New York City holds onto a great deal of power in comparison to other city mayors.
So why is Mamdani so important here? First of all, his political stance. Self-branding himself as a “democratic socialist” is a pretty bold move, especially running for mayor in a city as large and important as New York. The last time the U.S. had a socialist mayor was Frank Zeidler, whose term as Milwaukee Mayor ended in 1960. However, Milwaukee as a city can’t
really be compared in influence to NYC. The craziest part of it all? In an American political sphere that’s currently dominated by right-wing ideals, it looks like Mamdani could potentially win the entire election. His campaign has involved travelling to debates using New York subway and train stations, walking with crowds of citizens throughout boroughs of New York, and doing personal interviews in bodegas. Not only has his campaign highlighted his charisma, but also his dedication to working with and for the people of New York. Labeling himself as a socialist and going out of his way to showcase himself as a man of the people.
So why should anyone really care about this branding or Mamdani’s unique political campaign? The moves he’s making can potentially shake up U.S. politics for a very long time. The success of his campaign and the popularity of his policies, including government mandated grocery stores and free buses, highlights politicians changing views on Political Action Committee (PAC) money funding and their connections to big corporations, and instead get out into their cities and involve themselves with the people they may govern over. Mamdani’s potentially successful mayoral campaign is a sign that voting as a citizen is now more important than ever. Politicians may see the success of Mamdani, realize that people are ready for policies that will bring successful change to their way of living and begin mimicking these tactics. Politicians are going to need to start working closer with their people, meaning that now more than ever, is the best time for you to involve yourself in politics.
~ Ivan Ojeda `29
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