Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic Party primary race, but he is likely to face a stiff field in the general election for NYC mayor, which could include former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and/or the city's current mayor, Eric Adams.
To beat the field, which will likely be reduced to one man by election day, Mamdani will need to have the entire Democratic Party apparatus behind him, but he has just made a few moves that rubbed people the wrong way.
Now, some big voices in the caucus are coming out against the polarizing political figure.
While many in the Democratic Party have yet to come out in support of Mamdani, Democrat National Committee Chair Ken Martin appears to be one of the new leaders willing to look past the candidate's antisemitic behavior and controversial comments.
When recently asked about Mamdani's refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” Martin stated, “You know, there’s no candidate in this party that I agree 100% of the time with, to be honest with you.” He later added, “At the end of the day, for me, that’s the type of party we’re going to lead. We are a big tent party.”
Mamdani’s backers have also made a move against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), into which we will delve below. Additionally, Mamdani’s campaign has hired a key Barack Obama strategist, something that likely did not happen without the former president's blessing.
His campaign has paid more than $3 million to the Los Angeles-based Debra Schommer Media Group, a group that worked on the Obama and Pete Buttigieg campaigns.
The Democratic Socialists of America have launched an attack against Jeffries, with a spokesperson stating, “His leadership has left a vacuum that organizations like DSA are filling. I think that is more important right now,” an odd comment to make before Jeffries backed someone in this mayoral race.
Jeffries’ office responded, “Leader Hakeem Jeffries is focused on taking back the House from the MAGA extremists who just ripped health care away from millions of Americans."
The statement continued, “However, if Team Gentrification wants a primary fight, our response will be forceful and unrelenting. We will teach them and all of their incumbents a painful lesson on June 23, 2026.”
This is Mamdani telling members of the Democrat establishment he does not need them, so this could be a game-changing move for the mayoral hopeful, especially when you consider that he will need the DNC’s support in this campaign. Will the DNC now pull its support with Mamdani’s team going after its House leader?
The ever-entertaining Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) also commented on Mamdani, and this will surely start another war among socialists in New York.
Fetterman stated, “Everything that I’ve read on him, I don’t really agree with virtually any of it, politically. That’s just where I’m at as a Democrat. He’s not even a Democrat, honestly.”
Fetterman was not pleased at all with the Mandani win, believing it served as “Christmas in July” for Republicans, because it now allows the “GOP to brand our party.”
Well, Sen. Fetterman, it is your party’s leadership that is accepting that branding, openly embracing someone who wants to turn New York City into a big commune. If you don’t want that label, start speaking out more against party members who are encouraging this dramatic shift to the left in our country.