Double good like for your observation about ‘creating the electorate’. That’s what talented politicians do. That’s their talent. That’s what a gift for the gab gets you. I’m very glad he won. A bit of good news for once from abroad.
cuomo also had the issue of none of his own allies genuinely liked him. the stakeholders who endorsed him mostly did so out of fear of his perceived inevitability. the sexual harassment history fit in with his overall bullying style aimed at everyone, instead of the typical abuser who abuses some but is charming to others. when he got the endorsement of jessica ramos he was unable to accept it graciously and she was unable to conceal that for her it was mostly a matter of careerist resentment of mamdani’s unearned success. otherwise, the RCV format helped keep the also-rans from getting in his camp, but so did their own past experiences with him as governor. it all undermined the case that despite his personal flaws he could somehow be good at his job. so much of this, managing staff and interacting with people, is the job itself.
"...convincing liberal educated upper-middle-class Jews not to like a college-educated, left-leaning immigrant—and one who tried to make a career in the arts?! Forget about it. The guy is practically Jewish!...."
Agreed. The celebrity endorsement that sealed the deal for my wife was when she learned that he cut a music video with Madhur Jaffrey. "Mr. Cardomom" -- how adorable! Madhur Jaffrey! Talk about star power!
I have grave doubts about his odds of success -- the NYPD will be gunning for him from day one, for instance -- but I wish him all the best.
The campaign to smear Mamdani as an antisemite just felt so craven and tokenizing and, dare I say, tacky? Reminiscent of the way efforts to smear Obama were undercut by the fact that he just seemed like such a nice young man.
Putting the young aside, I think that’s what elected Joe Biden in 2020. He just seemed nice, and Trump couldn’t make the commie label stick except with his cult.
Like its just not believable in anyway. So he supports Palestinian rights and thats your evidence? You are telling on yourself there if that is your reasoning.
I think your final point about the fundamental inadequacy of establishment/centrist Dem politics is the best part. As you note, the electorate is formed every election anew. Trump "knows" this, as does Mamdami.
Relatedly, if you haven't yet, you (and other readers) should really watch this video of Mamdami interviewing voters on the street in Queens one week after the presidential election last November. All Americans - but especially those interested in an alternative to MAGA - should watch this. It is 100% true that the Trump vote amongst non-MAGA voters was an anti-system vote and you can't appeal to those voters by offering more conservative policies regarding trans people or immigrants, because that is not what those voters want at the end of the day (even if they might agree with a more conservative view on those issues in a poll):
To me the big question going forward is whether the Cuomo block, including the police and other unions, help to facilitate rather than frustrate his capacity and effectiveness in governing.
“But the clear lesson of the past decade was that the old civic associations’ power to control and mobilize the electorate has been steadily weakening.”
Working in Democratic politics for the last several years, I cannot think of a more necessary lesson for the party.
One sentence needs a small correction: Let’s also not discount the fact that he’s just young and good-looking, and Cuomo looks and acts like and in fact is a creep.
I am not a citizen of NYC, but I do follow their politics as it pertains to what I hope is a growing realization amongst Democrats that it is time for a new approach. Furthermore, as an older individual, I must confess that I am not fully conversant with all the latest technological advancements. Therefore, I firmly believe that the older generation currently running the Democratic Party needs to make way for the younger generations. I feel very strongly that one of the reasons for the election of the Mad King was the disgust many younger people have for older individuals who refuse to change. Older people who do not recognize the seriousness of climate change, the importance of our immigrant populations, and who fail to recognize the importance of working with other countries. Because some of us feel that Israel's present policies towards Palestine are totally incorrect does not make us anti-semites, and bombing a country doesn't mean its policies will change. In fact, the bombing might make its old guard even more powerful. Another example of the law of unintended consequences.
As an aside, I believe Mamdani's victory is more of a trend than a fluke. The recent gubernatorial primary in NJ had the two progressive candidates getting a larger share of the vote combined than Mikie Sherrill (who, while better than Murphy, let alone Cuomo, is more of a centrist candidate). If NJ had RCV, we'd probably be seeing Ras Baraka (or Steve Fulop) as the Democratic candidate for governor.
I hope you were real pleased with yourself about that Wharton School/Edith Wharton line.
He should be.
“the guy is practically Jewish” — i’ve certainly seen a bunch of posts calling him some version of rootless cosmopolitan
laughed at this...
the one by inez stepman being particularly blatant.
Double good like for your observation about ‘creating the electorate’. That’s what talented politicians do. That’s their talent. That’s what a gift for the gab gets you. I’m very glad he won. A bit of good news for once from abroad.
It's a breath of fresh air to read an analysis of the election from a historian rather than a political scientist. Thank you for this.
New York just feels more beautiful the last two days.
cuomo also had the issue of none of his own allies genuinely liked him. the stakeholders who endorsed him mostly did so out of fear of his perceived inevitability. the sexual harassment history fit in with his overall bullying style aimed at everyone, instead of the typical abuser who abuses some but is charming to others. when he got the endorsement of jessica ramos he was unable to accept it graciously and she was unable to conceal that for her it was mostly a matter of careerist resentment of mamdani’s unearned success. otherwise, the RCV format helped keep the also-rans from getting in his camp, but so did their own past experiences with him as governor. it all undermined the case that despite his personal flaws he could somehow be good at his job. so much of this, managing staff and interacting with people, is the job itself.
"...convincing liberal educated upper-middle-class Jews not to like a college-educated, left-leaning immigrant—and one who tried to make a career in the arts?! Forget about it. The guy is practically Jewish!...."
Agreed. The celebrity endorsement that sealed the deal for my wife was when she learned that he cut a music video with Madhur Jaffrey. "Mr. Cardomom" -- how adorable! Madhur Jaffrey! Talk about star power!
I have grave doubts about his odds of success -- the NYPD will be gunning for him from day one, for instance -- but I wish him all the best.
The campaign to smear Mamdani as an antisemite just felt so craven and tokenizing and, dare I say, tacky? Reminiscent of the way efforts to smear Obama were undercut by the fact that he just seemed like such a nice young man.
Putting the young aside, I think that’s what elected Joe Biden in 2020. He just seemed nice, and Trump couldn’t make the commie label stick except with his cult.
Like its just not believable in anyway. So he supports Palestinian rights and thats your evidence? You are telling on yourself there if that is your reasoning.
A fantastic summary I'll share with others.
I think your final point about the fundamental inadequacy of establishment/centrist Dem politics is the best part. As you note, the electorate is formed every election anew. Trump "knows" this, as does Mamdami.
Relatedly, if you haven't yet, you (and other readers) should really watch this video of Mamdami interviewing voters on the street in Queens one week after the presidential election last November. All Americans - but especially those interested in an alternative to MAGA - should watch this. It is 100% true that the Trump vote amongst non-MAGA voters was an anti-system vote and you can't appeal to those voters by offering more conservative policies regarding trans people or immigrants, because that is not what those voters want at the end of the day (even if they might agree with a more conservative view on those issues in a poll):
https://x.com/ZohranKMamdani/status/1857410216733651146
To me the big question going forward is whether the Cuomo block, including the police and other unions, help to facilitate rather than frustrate his capacity and effectiveness in governing.
Yeah this is a concern. I think the issue is bigger in NYC than other cities as well.
“But the clear lesson of the past decade was that the old civic associations’ power to control and mobilize the electorate has been steadily weakening.”
Working in Democratic politics for the last several years, I cannot think of a more necessary lesson for the party.
One sentence needs a small correction: Let’s also not discount the fact that he’s just young and good-looking, and Cuomo looks and acts like and in fact is a creep.
"The guy just does not come across as a hateful person"
A handsome young guy, in the online spaces the electorate actually exists, smiling.
It's brain stem level stuff, for all the ideological trappings that surround it.
Glad you mentioned his performance with the middle class; it has been passed over by "liberal" centrists' critics.
I am not a citizen of NYC, but I do follow their politics as it pertains to what I hope is a growing realization amongst Democrats that it is time for a new approach. Furthermore, as an older individual, I must confess that I am not fully conversant with all the latest technological advancements. Therefore, I firmly believe that the older generation currently running the Democratic Party needs to make way for the younger generations. I feel very strongly that one of the reasons for the election of the Mad King was the disgust many younger people have for older individuals who refuse to change. Older people who do not recognize the seriousness of climate change, the importance of our immigrant populations, and who fail to recognize the importance of working with other countries. Because some of us feel that Israel's present policies towards Palestine are totally incorrect does not make us anti-semites, and bombing a country doesn't mean its policies will change. In fact, the bombing might make its old guard even more powerful. Another example of the law of unintended consequences.
Lovely John, thank you. I came for some analysis and commentary and left with a Wharton gag I won’t forget in a hurry.
As an aside, I believe Mamdani's victory is more of a trend than a fluke. The recent gubernatorial primary in NJ had the two progressive candidates getting a larger share of the vote combined than Mikie Sherrill (who, while better than Murphy, let alone Cuomo, is more of a centrist candidate). If NJ had RCV, we'd probably be seeing Ras Baraka (or Steve Fulop) as the Democratic candidate for governor.
The times they are a-changin'
Ditto from a resident of Jersey City.
Our congresswoman is Monica McIver who was arrested during the same ICE confrontation along with Ras Baraka.