Zohran Mamdani: Stepping up Socialism

As the New York City mayoral election drew closer, candidate Zohran Mamdani continued to garner increasing attention. Mamdani, the official nominee of the Democratic Party, has made waves nationwide as he seeks to implement socialist policies in a city that thrives on capitalism. In a country where socialism is negatively associated with communism, it is a surprise that Mamdani's candidacy has been widely embraced by New Yorkers. But what has driven Mamdani to gain his leading position in general election polls, and actually win, and how is his candidacy important on a national scale? 

Mamdani’s political campaign was heavily based on advocating for the everyday, middle-class individual, a premise that heavily resonates with New York City residents who struggle with affordability. Socialism is a concept that is often viewed or discussed with disdain due to its association with communism; but what sets Mamdani apart from other mayoral candidates was his promise to serve the people through bringing government driven projects to improve the everyday lives of New Yorkers. The key aspects of Zohran for New York City are to implement fare-free transportation, lower grocery prices, freeze rent, and establish a Department of Community Safety, all of which are policies rooted in socialist principles. For example, in order to lower grocery prices, Mamdani and his team plan to create "city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit," in which these groceries, "without having to pay rent or property taxes, will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers" (Zohran for NYC). Rather than having multiple corporations compete for demand and survival through passing prices onto consumers, Mamdani believes that city-owned grocery stores will help bring affordability to the everyday person. Another promising aspect of the political campaign is fare-free transportation. However, this will be difficult to accomplish because the MTA is not city-owned but a product of the state (Metropolitan Transport Authority). This means that to deliver this promise, Mamdani will require approval from the state, not just city officials. Nevertheless, the premise of fare-free transportation is to source funding from government collected tax rather than taking the MTA. Other proposals such as freezing rent and creating a new Department of Community Safety will also place the burden of affordability on the city rather than middle-class residents.  

All these proposals seem enticing on the surface, but how will Mamdani draw in funding to bring these promises to reality? The answer is to raise taxes on corporations to 11.5%, and to the wealthy 1% of New York City residents with a flat 2% tax, bringing billions of dollars to fund city projects (Zohran for NYC). These taxes have become incredibly controversial among the elite, to the point where billionaires have donated millions of dollars in opposition to Mamdani's campaign. According to Forbes, Ackman has indeed put $1.75 million into political groups spending against Mamdani," and "26 [other] billionaires and members of billion-dollar families from around the country have sunk at least $100,000 each into supporting Cuomo" (Khan-Mullins). To the elite, socialism poses a threat that will confiscate a huge portion of their wealth – a value unfathomable to the everyday worker. Mamdani's campaign places emphasis on making the city more accessible to middle and lower-income households. The aggression between Mamdani’s campaign and the elite ultimately creates a battle between the people and the wealthy. 

Overall, socialism in a city like New York is unheard of because the city itself thrives on competition among businesses to create a lively economic scene. New York City hosts "a population of around 8.3 million that is ethnically and culturally diverse" and "its economy is the largest in New York State and among the largest in the world," (New York City – Federal Reserve Bank). This made Mamdani's candidacy incredibly important on a national scale because as a member of the Democratic Party, he continues to make headlines by pushing for what are considered Leftist policies. Therefore, Zohran's stepping up as a socialist candidate in affluent New York City is relevant throughout the country, as his campaign poses a step toward the increasing acceptance of socialist policies and ideology nationwide.

Sources

"Zohran for NYC." Zohran for NYC, www.zohranfornyc.com. 

“Metropolitan Transportation Authority.” Budget New York,

www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/agencies/appropdata/MetropolitanTransportationAuthority.html. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Khan-Mullins, Kyle. "Anyone but Mamdani: These Billionaires Are Spending Big to Stop Him from Becoming NYC's Mayor." Forbes, 24 Oct. 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/10/24/anyone-but-mamdani-these-billionaires-are-spending-big-to-stop-him-from-becoming-nycs-mayor

New York City - FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of  NEW YORK. www.newyorkfed.org/regional-economy/profiles/newyorkcity