Socialist, South-Asian, African, and Muslim, the defining characteristics of New York’s newest mayor elect, Zohran Mamdani. Beyond his diverse identity, Mamdani stands as a ‘charming’ and young leader, striking the hearts and minds of those beyond the ‘Big Apple’. Despite his charisma and striking personality, Mamdani’s election brought upon a diverse pool of opinions and predictions, far more diverse than the mayor-elect himself.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has faced immense backlash from republicans and democrats alike, despite being a representative of the democratic party. The concept of being a socialist is an idea not yet grasped by the American public, never having been seen prior to Mamdani.
Mamdani’s policies consist of quite controversial ideas that many claim to be detrimental to the grand city. For instance, Mamdani wants to focus on public benefit, specifically for the lower class. Mamdani aims to freeze the rent, establish city owned grocery stores, and free buses, all in hopes to benefit the ever growing middle and lower class population. Perhaps his most controversial policy is in regards to his proposed tax on the city’s wealthiest residents.
The implications behind Mamdani’s election are yet to be foreseen with his inauguration taking place on the fateful night of New Years Day, January 1st, 2026. A new era of change is arriving, Mamdani’s election propelling this change. With Donald Trump officially taking office earlier this year and republican control over both the house and the senate, it was clear the country was headed toward a more conservative time period. Despite this, Mamdani was elected in New York, facing incredulous obstacles, perhaps the biggest being Trump actively endorsing his democratic party opponent, Andrew Cuomo.
A similar sentiment is shared throughout the school. In fact, here is what another student had to say in regards to Mamdani’s election:
“I’m so happy Mamdani’s been elected,” senior Arisha Gohar said. “South Asian representation has been long overdue especially in our current political climate. He seems like a very moral person and I am confident in his ability to bring change to New York City. I think his policies are incredibly beneficial for the lower/middle class, especially with the bus fare reduction and the freezing of rent for tenants. This is a step in the right direction, I feel like it would encourage more change and push people toward making a change and straying away from the norm.”
“I’m happy Mandani’s been elected, it removes the precedent of older and more traditional leaders. At the same time, I’m worried about what he may bring with his policies. They seem good as a concept but it all depends on the implementation of such policies. These policies could be detrimental and lead to more taxing to fund these support programs for low income individuals. I am glad to see a leader that really does seem like he cares about the average person and not just rich, upper class citizens. I hope this brings change to the rest of the country.” said senior Ynigo Ocampo.
The wave that Mamdani’s election brought was unforeseen, changing the political landscape far more than any other politician at the time. While Mamdani has yet to take office, it is clear that his election will continue to cause ripples in politics, perhaps shifting the U.S from this rise of conservatism that Trump brought along.
