Democratic Socialist Mayoral Nominee Creates Growing Headache For Vulnerable New York Democrats

New York Democrats abruptly person much problems than nan backmost extremity of nan New York Yankees starting rotation.

But nan Yankees person nan opportunity to hole immoderate of their issues earlier nan July 31 waste and acquisition deadline.

However, there’s nary waste and acquisition deadline successful politics.

And immoderate blimpish and mean Democrats wish location was a waiver wire. Especially for Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zorhan Mamdani.

MAMDANI'S FAILURE TO WALK BACK THESE POSITIONS COULD CAUSE RECKONING IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY: 'FIVE-ALARM WARNING'

The information of nan self-proclaimed Democratic socialist is cleaving nan party. Democrats are still searching for a unified connection aft nan election. And nan information of Mamdani highlights those splits. Many awesome Democrats person yet to endorse him. And far-left sects of Democrats could superior incumbent House Democrats – including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. – unless they backmost Mamdani. 

Republicans are reveling successful nan Democrats divides. 

"If Zohran Mamdani becomes politician of New York City, it’s going to put a batch of seats successful play successful New York," predicted Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. 

Lawler represents a battleground territory conscionable northbound of nan City. Democrats request to conclusion Lawler – and astir apt Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y. connected Long Island – if they’re to person a chance to flip nan House.

Candidate for New York City politician Zohran Mamdani speaks during a property convention while campaigning extracurricular a Subway position successful New York City, U.S., April 1, 2025. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)

Once again, nan imaginable way to a Democratic House mostly plows correct done nan Empire State. Victories by Lawler, LaLota and erstwhile Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., are 1 of nan reasons Republicans flipped nan House – but hardly – successful 2022. 

Now Mamdani’s socialism is threatening to thrust a schism arsenic wide arsenic Broadway done nan Democratic Party. His superior triumph is echoing successful different plaything districts now held by Democrats. And Mamdani’s information presents Republicans pinch a plum opportunity to change nan trajectory of House races adjacent nan Big Apple.

That’s why Lawler is basking successful nan information of Mamdani. And Democrats who correspond plaything districts, for illustration Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., are outspoken astir Mamdani and trying to build a firewall betwixt him and their candidacies for re-election successful 2026.

There’s fearfulness Mamdani could naughty nan statement to nan left.

"He’s not moreover a Democrat," bemoaned Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., astir Mamdani. "He provided an opportunity for nan GOP to marque our party."

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And Republicans are doing conscionable that.

"He’s a legit communist," proclaimed Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. "I deliberation candidates for illustration Mamdani could proceed to push them further left." 

"It would beryllium a gift to nan Republican Party," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., astir Mamdani. "Every personification had a kid successful people increasing up who ate paste. I deliberation nan imaginable caller politician of New York is going to beryllium that kid and Democrats don’t cognize what to do."

In college, Mamdani supported an anti-Israel boycott. And during nan pandemic, Mamdani pushed nan seizure of luxury condos by nan authorities to location nan homeless.

Democratic mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani speaks successful nan New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate astatine NBC Studios connected June 4, 2025 successful New York City.  (Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images)

Republicans dream Mamdani molds nan perceptions of voters.

"I’m conscionable going to fto him speak," declared Kennedy astir Mamdani. "I mean you ne'er interfere pinch your force erstwhile he’s kicking his ain ass."

But immoderate Democrats are skeptical that Mamdani’s occurrence echoes elsewhere arsenic we tube toward nan midterms.

"What happens successful New York is not what’s going to hap successful Vermont aliases Colorado aliases Texas. That’s going to beryllium a section race," said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

Mamdani is suggesting Democratic unity.

"The conversations I’ve had pinch (New York) Governor (Kathy) Hochul (D) and (House Minority Leader Hakeem) Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Sen. (Chuck) Schumer, D-N.Y.), person been productive," said Mamdani.

But Hochul has yet to endorse Mamdani. The aforesaid pinch Jeffries and Schumer. Jeffries plans to huddle pinch Mamdani connected Friday. Schumer says he said by telephone Monday nighttime pinch Mamdani and will sojourn pinch him "in New York."

However, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., conscionable endorsed Mamdani. 

"We will travel together and we, arsenic bully Democrats, we will activity retired our differences," said Espaillat.

But Mike Lawler believes apical New York Democrats will yet backmost Mamdani. He says they’ll person nary choice.

REPUBLICANS RELENTLESSLY USE MAMDANI AS SOCIALIST CUDGEL TO BASH VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS

"They're each petrified that if they don't get connected committee pinch nan extremist socialist who is now nan titular caput of their statement that they're going to look primaries," said Lawler.

Mamdani friends are threatening superior challenges against 5 New York House Democrats – including Jeffries. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is simply a large protagonist of Mamdani and is bringing him to Washington to meet pinch different Democrats. 

"I deliberation a batch of group conscionable request to get to cognize folks earlier they rumor an endorsement. I dream that this speech tin beryllium constructive to bring nan statement together and rally down our nominee," said Ocasio-Cortez astir nan meal meeting.

But Republicans continued to person a section time associating Mamdani pinch different Democrats. Especially drafting together Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez.

"Who you dine pinch says a batch astir you arsenic an individual. I deliberation it's 2 peas successful a pod. Two socialists who want to alteration America for nan worse," said Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo.

"It reinforces really acold near Democrats person gone and nan extremist elements of nan statement are taking complete successful nan Democratic Party," said Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich.

Zohran Mamdani (left) is joining Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a meal arena successful Washington, D.C., connected Wednesday morning.  (AP Images)

But immoderate Democrats – who aren’t from New York – are much than happy to sojourn pinch Mamdani. 

"What Mamdani has shown us, a batch of nan ways successful which we talk astir nan costs of living. And it's nan aforesaid point that (President) Donald Trump talked about," said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., nan apical Democrat connected nan House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. 

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he had "vast disagreements" pinch Mamdani and called him a "socialist." But Moskowitz said Mamdani’s occurrence offered thing Democrats should ponder. 

"He's had a very bully online campaign. So, I'm going to spell and listen," said Moskowitz. "Every territory is different. Some of nan things that he talks astir successful nan City of New York is not going to activity successful Boca Raton. Okay. But arsenic acold arsenic really you do a integer campaign, I deliberation there's thing to study from."

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But to Republicans, listening to Mamdani is nan aforesaid arsenic cozying up to him. And Republicans will apt due thing Mamdani does and task it onto Democrats nationwide. 

Unlike successful baseball, Democrats can’t waste and acquisition Mamdani now. They can’t chair him. He’s successful their lineup – whether they for illustration it aliases not.