In New York City, the Democrat Party is preparing for a mayor’s race primary later this month where the winner will essentially have a shoe-in to win the general election considering New York City is a Democrat stronghold. One of the leaders in the race is a Democrat who is openly a socialist and unashamedly a fan of Karl Marx, the father of communism and Marxism. That man is Zohran Mamdani, who is a part of the Democrat Socialists of America group which was founded in 1982.
The prospect of a Democratic socialist like Zohran Mamdani gaining traction is enough to make any sensible New Yorker question the direction of their city. With just two weeks until the Democratic primary, Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblymember, is riding a wave of progressive hype, fueled by social media stunts and endorsements from the likes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. According to Polymarket, a prediction platform where real money is wagered, Mamdani’s odds of winning have jumped to 34 percent, up from 18 percent on June 9. That’s a troubling sign for those who value practical governance over utopian pipe dreams.
Mamdani’s rise is a symptom of a city increasingly seduced by flashy promises and viral campaign videos. His platform—free public buses, city-run grocery stores, and a rent freeze on regulated apartments—sounds like a socialist fever dream designed to bankrupt the city. These ideas, while popular with the social media crowd, ignore the fiscal realities of running a metropolis like New York. The fact that his support peaked at 42 percent on June 12 before dipping slightly shows how quickly voters can be swayed by idealism divorced from practicality. Meanwhile, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite his flaws, does hold a commanding 65 percent on Polymarket, though that’s down from 82 percent earlier this month.
Cuomo’s lead, while still strong, isn’t unassailable. A recent poll by Public Policy Polling, conducted June 6-7 for Justin Brannan’s comptroller campaign, showed Mamdani edging out Cuomo 35 to 31 percent among 573 likely voters. The margin of error is 4.1 percent, so it’s a close call, but the idea that a relative newcomer like Mamdani could overtake a seasoned political heavyweight is alarming. Brannan and Mamdani, both backed by the New York Working Families Party, seem to be tapping into a growing appetite for far-left policies that could spell disaster for the city’s economy.
Bill de Blasio put New York on life support, Zohran Mamdani would be the nail in the coffin. pic.twitter.com/KjHAbvcViW
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) June 13, 2025
The Democratic primary’s ranked-choice voting system adds another layer of chaos. Voters can rank up to five candidates, which might dilute support for more pragmatic contenders. Other candidates, like City Comptroller Brad Lander (9 percent), former Comptroller Scott Stringer (5 percent), and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (4 percent), are barely registering in the polls despite significant endorsements. Lander’s dismal showing, even with his citywide office and hefty campaign budget, proves that name recognition and money don’t always translate to voter enthusiasm. Adams, backed by Attorney General Letitia James and labor giant District Council 37, is floundering just as badly.
Cuomo, 67, is fighting for a comeback after resigning as governor in 2021 amid s*xual misconduct allegations, which he has consistently denied. No charges were ever filed, and while his reputation took a hit, his experience governing New York through crises like Hurricane Sandy and the early COVID-19 pandemic gives him a gravitas Mamdani can’t match. Yet, polls suggest voters remain wary. An internal Cuomo poll by Expedition Strategies, conducted June 3-7 with 600 likely voters, showed him leading Mamdani 56 to 44 percent after eight rounds of ranked-choice voting. But a Data for Progress poll from May 30 to June 4, backed by a Mamdani-supporting super PAC, had Mamdani trailing by just two points in the final ranked-choice tally.
Mamdani’s campaign thrives on grassroots momentum and social media savvy, with viral videos pushing policies that sound generous but crumble under scrutiny. Free buses? Great, until you realize the MTA’s already strapped for cash. City-run grocery stores? A bureaucratic nightmare waiting to happen. Rent freezes? A surefire way to deter landlords from maintaining properties, leaving tenants in crumbling buildings. Mamdani’s claim to The New York Times that affordability is “the most important issue facing New Yorkers right now” is hard to argue with, but his solutions are a masterclass in wishful thinking.
Cuomo, for his part, isn’t holding back. During Thursday’s debate, he hammered Mamdani’s inexperience, stating, “Mamdani has never done anything,” and pointing out that the assembly-member has only passed three bills in the State Assembly. It’s a fair jab—Mamdani’s legislative record is thin, and entrusting him with a city of 8 million people feels like handing the keys to a teenager who just got their learner’s permit. Cuomo’s not wrong to warn that Mamdani’s policies would likely require crippling tax hikes, further burdening New Yorkers already stretched thin.
Mamdani’s response, however, was a calculated jab meant to inflame rather than inform. He fired back, saying, “I have never had to resign in disgrace…I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of s*xual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records. And I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo. And furthermore, the name is Mamdani, M-a-m-d-a-n-i, you should learn how to say it, because we’ve got to get it right.” It’s a cheap shot, leaning on unproven allegations to score points with the progressive base rather than addressing the substance of Cuomo’s critique.
The polling world is a mixed bag. A mid-May 2025 SurveyUSA poll had Cuomo dominating with 43 percent support, while Mamdani languished at 11 percent. But a June 5-9 Honan Strategy Group survey showed Cuomo at 38 percent and Mamdani at 22 percent, with a 2.76 percent margin of error. Mamdani’s higher favorability—58 percent to Cuomo’s 48 percent in the Data for Progress poll—suggests he’s winning hearts, if not yet minds. But favorability doesn’t pay the bills, and New Yorkers should be wary of a candidate whose charisma outpaces his competence.
The Working Families Party’s endorsement of Mamdani and Brannan signals a troubling shift toward radical policies that prioritize ideology over results. New York City, already grappling with high taxes, crime, and housing shortages, doesn’t need a mayor who thinks the answer lies in government-controlled groceries or frozen rents. These ideas might play well on social media, but they’re a recipe for fiscal ruin in the real world. Mamdani’s supporters may cheer his defiance, but defiance alone won’t fix potholes or balance budgets.
As the primary nears, the contrast couldn’t be starker. Cuomo, whatever his past controversies, brings a track record of getting things done, even if his style ruffles feathers. Mamdani, on the other hand, offers a vision that’s heavy on promises and light on practicality. New Yorkers face a choice: a proven, if imperfect, leader or a charismatic upstart whose policies could drive the city into the ground. The clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Let us know what you think in the comments below about the possibility of an open socialist winning the mayorship in New York City.
