Idk too much about the campaign, but I do appreciate Mamdani’s embrace of housing liberalization as a beautiful synthesis of abundance and the Left. The response from the YIMBYs is really telling. The bulk of them (including Yglesias) have endorsed Mandani over Cuomo, even if they rank others before Mamdani. They are a coalitional cheap date, particularly the more left-leaning ones (who I’d count myself among). You can buy yourself a lot of goodwill without spending a dollar if you’re willing to legalize apartments. Something people should consider before manning the ramparts against Ezra Klein.
I agree some of his schemes seem pretty wacky and imprudent/impossible but he seems like a nice young man especially next to the ghoulish Cuomo. My politics are a lot more technocratic than Mamdani’s, but kooky-idealistic-leftist brings something valuable to the table in a way that suburb-cretin-centrism doesn’t.
I guess because he’s not Cuomo I understand the endorsement (and this is beautifully written) but I really don’t understand why Lander hasn’t received more attention. In my mind perhaps Mamdani does have a very American quality, which is style over substance (very evident from the details of his proposals). Is it really too much to ask that, popular tastes aside, that a candidate be judged not on how cool he or his wife is but their realistic vision?
Nearly 30k volunteers are campaigning for Zohran. Also, his stance for Palestinian rights matters to a lot of young folks in the City. He comes across as a breath of fresh air. Lander is not bad, but he is more like DeBlasio 2.0.
Mamdani isn't just coasting into the spotlight on his rizz and social media game. DSA launched an ambitious outreach campaign to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors (over 600,000 as of earlier this month - I don't know whether they hit the "one million doors" target yet) in support of his candidacy.
Ok, I still don’t find this to be dispositive as to whether the actual substance of his campaign is meritorious. To the extent he’s impressive on any specifics at the moment it’s because he’s running away from “left wing” ideas like Defund The Police and kneecapping housing construction.
Lander was my council-person, met him multiple times at child's school, rallies, etc. Very milque-toast personality but excellent politics, mind and work-ethic. But the fact the city/state Dems and their enabler institutions couldn't get behind him speaks to how much the party is a corporate machine. So utterly unable to evolve, even HE is too progressive for them. They do not trust the youth, unless the youth speaks their language (see Torres).
1.3 million doors knocked as of the weekend! With a contact rate of well over 10%—so that’s a lot of actual conversations with voters. Unprecedented in NYC.
"Do I think Zohran Mamdani’s ambitious policies will be implemented and work if they are? Probably not." If we have learned anything it should be that politics is a collective sport. Upstarts and outsiders are rarely, if ever, effective in governing. Which is the job. You can't organize an opposition if your are the occupant of the office/government you oppose. Zohran should keep organizing from below.
I’d put him on the ballot so I don’t end up benefitting Cuomo by nixing the closest challenger but there’s none of his policies appeal to me and neither does the campaign or the frankly, “establishment vs ant-establishment” bent of the whole thing. Mayor of NYC is largely an Ops job and I don’t find his ability to grasp social media qualifying. Lander is easily the best. I also think Zellnor is very good. Adrienne Adams is decent. I put him on my ballot but I can’t participate in the furor over nothing but vibes.
I think despair is bad, but Mamdani will probably make NYC even less livable than it is now and then it would be with another Cuomo term and that will be worse for New Yorkers and will further enshittify the party brand and between those two downsides, that will be worse for everyone overall.
AOC and Bernie have helped push the Democratic Party away from Third Way Clintonist centrism and toward their original pro labor, FDR like selves. If Mamdani helps push them further along the same path, that will be another step in the right direction, even if he stumbles a few times along the way
Almost 400,000 early votes are in, which is about 40% of the last mayoral total vote. (And double the early vote of 2021 - NB, we were still doing social distance then). So it won't be minimal, but may be depressed.
Of course, a million votes in a city of 3 million registered Democrats may be viewed as minimal.
I like Mamdani, and despise Cuomo. But the Children's Crusaders, if I remember, mostly got sold into slavery. If I were a New Yorker, I might put another WFP candidate on the top of my ballot.
Idk too much about the campaign, but I do appreciate Mamdani’s embrace of housing liberalization as a beautiful synthesis of abundance and the Left. The response from the YIMBYs is really telling. The bulk of them (including Yglesias) have endorsed Mandani over Cuomo, even if they rank others before Mamdani. They are a coalitional cheap date, particularly the more left-leaning ones (who I’d count myself among). You can buy yourself a lot of goodwill without spending a dollar if you’re willing to legalize apartments. Something people should consider before manning the ramparts against Ezra Klein.
I agree some of his schemes seem pretty wacky and imprudent/impossible but he seems like a nice young man especially next to the ghoulish Cuomo. My politics are a lot more technocratic than Mamdani’s, but kooky-idealistic-leftist brings something valuable to the table in a way that suburb-cretin-centrism doesn’t.
True
I guess because he’s not Cuomo I understand the endorsement (and this is beautifully written) but I really don’t understand why Lander hasn’t received more attention. In my mind perhaps Mamdani does have a very American quality, which is style over substance (very evident from the details of his proposals). Is it really too much to ask that, popular tastes aside, that a candidate be judged not on how cool he or his wife is but their realistic vision?
Mamdani has the better campaign, that's why. The poetry part does matter.
This is begging the question a bit IMO.
Nearly 30k volunteers are campaigning for Zohran. Also, his stance for Palestinian rights matters to a lot of young folks in the City. He comes across as a breath of fresh air. Lander is not bad, but he is more like DeBlasio 2.0.
I get that, and do think his stance on Palestine is winning him votes. However that has little to do with running NYC.
Mamdani isn't just coasting into the spotlight on his rizz and social media game. DSA launched an ambitious outreach campaign to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors (over 600,000 as of earlier this month - I don't know whether they hit the "one million doors" target yet) in support of his candidacy.
https://jacobin.com/2025/06/zohran-mamdani-canvassing-nyc-mayor
The ground game is paying off.
Ok, I still don’t find this to be dispositive as to whether the actual substance of his campaign is meritorious. To the extent he’s impressive on any specifics at the moment it’s because he’s running away from “left wing” ideas like Defund The Police and kneecapping housing construction.
Lander was my council-person, met him multiple times at child's school, rallies, etc. Very milque-toast personality but excellent politics, mind and work-ethic. But the fact the city/state Dems and their enabler institutions couldn't get behind him speaks to how much the party is a corporate machine. So utterly unable to evolve, even HE is too progressive for them. They do not trust the youth, unless the youth speaks their language (see Torres).
1.3 million doors knocked as of the weekend! With a contact rate of well over 10%—so that’s a lot of actual conversations with voters. Unprecedented in NYC.
"Do I think Zohran Mamdani’s ambitious policies will be implemented and work if they are? Probably not." If we have learned anything it should be that politics is a collective sport. Upstarts and outsiders are rarely, if ever, effective in governing. Which is the job. You can't organize an opposition if your are the occupant of the office/government you oppose. Zohran should keep organizing from below.
I’d put him on the ballot so I don’t end up benefitting Cuomo by nixing the closest challenger but there’s none of his policies appeal to me and neither does the campaign or the frankly, “establishment vs ant-establishment” bent of the whole thing. Mayor of NYC is largely an Ops job and I don’t find his ability to grasp social media qualifying. Lander is easily the best. I also think Zellnor is very good. Adrienne Adams is decent. I put him on my ballot but I can’t participate in the furor over nothing but vibes.
I think despair is bad, but Mamdani will probably make NYC even less livable than it is now and then it would be with another Cuomo term and that will be worse for New Yorkers and will further enshittify the party brand and between those two downsides, that will be worse for everyone overall.
Agreed
Mamdani is all about vibes. Let's see what actually gets implemented if he wins. He'll probably be another AOC-esque opportunist.
AOC and Bernie have helped push the Democratic Party away from Third Way Clintonist centrism and toward their original pro labor, FDR like selves. If Mamdani helps push them further along the same path, that will be another step in the right direction, even if he stumbles a few times along the way
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Since tomorrow in New York will get up to 100 degrees, I fear turnout may be minimal.
A lot of old people, who probably are Cumo's base, may not turn out.
Almost 400,000 early votes are in, which is about 40% of the last mayoral total vote. (And double the early vote of 2021 - NB, we were still doing social distance then). So it won't be minimal, but may be depressed.
Of course, a million votes in a city of 3 million registered Democrats may be viewed as minimal.
That helps Mamdani
I like Mamdani, and despise Cuomo. But the Children's Crusaders, if I remember, mostly got sold into slavery. If I were a New Yorker, I might put another WFP candidate on the top of my ballot.