2025 marked a historic mayoral election for New York City, with the NYC Board of Elections sharing it had garnered the largest voter turnout since 1969. Over 2 million votes were cast, a majority of which were for Democratic Socialist Zohran Kwame Mamdani. While many considered him an unlikely candidate on account of his radical policies, he garnered major support from youth across the world. Mamdami’s campaign broke boundaries, with him becoming the first South Asian and first Muslim to win in NYC. Many even outside of New York are looking to Mamdani as a leader, turning a simple mayoral election into an international political movement. As a Canadian living in Ontario, I admit that I have no skin in this game. However, I think there is a lot we can all learn from this election. The amazing magnitude of support Mamdani has gained says a lot about what people, particularly youth and Gen-Z, are looking for in politics.
- ECONOMIC HOPE:
-
There’s a significant amount of fear and uncertainty surrounding the current economy. People around the world are struggling to afford basic necessities, and home ownership seems impossible at this point. Personally, even a single bedroom in a shared apartment is inaccessible for me right now, and I think a lot of other students are feeling the same way. And despite how relevant these issues are to the cultural conversation at the moment, there’s a real lack of politicians with actionable plans to address the problems. Despite the many promises we’ve heard, the cost of living is still unattainably high for the average person in most places. Mamdani understood this and centered affordability as a key tenant of his campaign, with his website promising increased commitment to public housing and rental assistance. He reassured voters that they would not be priced out of the city and that there would be a future for them there. Given how unstable and out-of-control the markets are, it’s no wonder why this sentiment resonated with thousands of people struggling to make ends meet. His messaging was a rare moment of hope for everyone; hope which many haven’t felt since well before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- POLITICAL ACTIVISM:
-
Mamdani has also been incredibly outspoken in his political beliefs and upholds beliefs that many voters have been begging other leaders to support. I think this is especially important following the criticisms of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, wherein she was consistently dragged on social media for her failure to connect with the highest-priority issues of Democrat voters. Mamdani, in contrast, seems to represent everything that many wanted Harris to be. He’s been highly praised for his open support of Palestine, his defence of immigrants and cultural diversity, and his staunch LGBT+ allyship. For every marginalized person, Mamdani seems like a ray of hope in what is otherwise an incredibly dark and scary time. As immigrant families are being ripped apart by I.C.E, trans youth are being forced back into the closet because of violent, transphobic rhetoric, and the poorest citizens lose access to financial aid programs, Mamdani has been one of the only politicians to fiercely oppose these horrors. He is one of the only people in power, in my opinion, to truly share the anger felt by the citizenry in regard to these problems.
- AUTHENTICITY & INVOLVEMENT:
-
Mamdani’s brand is very much centered around his “every-man” persona, which has proven to be a wildly successful strategy. He chooses to meaningfully engage with constituents any chance he gets, as he’s been seen chatting with taxi cab drivers and meeting small business owners. Mamdani has developed a bit of a reputation on social media for being literally everywhere in the city, with hundreds of New Yorkers sharing posts meeting him in a variety of random locations. He’s been seen at a PinkPanthress concert, nightclubs, cultural events, retirement homes, elementary schools, grocery stores, and even just out on the street. He takes an incredibly hands-on approach to campaigning and prioritizes meeting with his constituents, which is a level of dedication and authenticity missing from current politics. He comes off as a man of the people; a man who genuinely loves New York City and wants to serve its citizens the best he can.
- REPRESENTATION
-
And simply, Mamdani represents the average New Yorker better than any other candidate. He’s a young, working class immigrant trying to make a name for himself. He’s much more sympathetic and easier to root for than any of the hundreds of rich, white, old men who have fought for office in the past. He has an incredible understanding of the community’s needs given his extensive involvement in local politics and his years of living there.
Blindly idolizing politicians is a recipe for disappointment. However, Zohran Mamdani has managed to capture the hearts of New York City and beyond with his unconventional and radical approach to politics. He encapsulates everything that many of us have been desperately searching for in modern politics. He breaks the generic politician mold in every way, and is setting himself up to be a key player in the United States’ future. While he has only just begun his journey, I know that many of us are eagerly awaiting his future accomplishments as Mayor of New York City.