On November 4, the Kentucky Secretary of State had to publicly remind some Kentuckians that they are not able to vote in the NYC mayoral race. They were curious to find out where they could vote for the next mayor of New York City, which they soon realized was not possible. But, why did they want to vote in the first place? NYC has held these elections roughly every 4 years, and they are rarely thrust into the national spotlight. This year, however, a progressive Assemblyman captivated the entire world. His #1 strategy was to transform his campaign into a social-media oriented one
New York City is one of the most well known cities in the world, and, interestingly, this race has grabbed everyone’s attention. Many out-of-town media outlets covered the election, and the chatter from social media reached an all-time high. Out-of-state college students were tweeting about his proposals, debating on TikTok and sharing their takes. A young adult all the way from Mississippi showed support for the election, even saying she wishes there was a Mamdani in her town. Even international outlets thoroughly covered the election, like The Guardian reporting how the UK mayor voiced support for mayor-elect Mamdani. It strangely felt like a national event, drawing everyone in. There were many political ads from the candidates, major poll swings, and last-minute endorsements. For NYC residents, there was a lot at play that could change everyday lives, with affordability ranking as the highest concern. Taking the train used to be $2, ice cream from the ice cream truck was $1.25, and rent used to be equitable. Now, prices have soared which worries many locals. Luckily, Mamdani advocated for affordable housing, free bus fares, and no-cost childcare for children up to 5 years old. He spread his message across social media, inspiring young voters to learn more about his platform and show up at the polls.
This NYC mayoral election saw the highest turnout in decades, with over 2 million votes cast. Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, prevailed, and countless NYC locals expressed their relief and excitement at his election-night party. He built a big coalition in the Big Apple, one that could mean a real change in politics. The rest of the world is listening and wondering—maybe a little enviously—as to what the future holds for NYC and how they could perhaps take a page or two from this election playbook.