Can Mamdani deliver on the issues that secured his win?

The mayoral election in New York City (NYC) generated global interest because the frontrunner was Zohran Mamdani, a relatively unknown politician who campaigned on a socialist platform, focused on "bread-and-butter issues" and promised many economic benefits to improve the lives of the city's average denizens. On the election day, November 4, Mamdani beat a well-known politician, Andrew Cuomo, who had the backing of President Trump and Republicans, to become the first Asian-American mayor of NYC.

What is the significance of Mamdani's victory? First and foremost, the lesson I take is that democracy is a powerful force and, once in a while, needs to be tested. Mamdani's ability to claim the mayoralty is evidence that, regardless of what we hear otherwise, the popular vote counts.

Secondly, a grassroots campaign for an electoral office by a group of energetic and dedicated supporters can beat the odds and overpower any vested interest. Mamdani was characterised by some quarters as a communist, antisemitic, unqualified, and a liar. But the voters of New York knew better. Cuomo, who was the Governor of New York State, expressed scepticism that Mamdani would not be able to execute his ideas. "You know, the pattern is politicians talk a lot, promise a lot, get into office, nothing happens, right?" Cuomo said.

Thirdly, The Economist rightly identifies New York as "the country's most enduring symbol of two American ideals, pluralism and opportunity." The election of a young mayor with little administrative experience reaffirms the country's enduring faith in innovative ideas and its nurturing environment for talented individuals.

Fourthly, this was the first election since Trump took office in January that provided an opportunity to gauge voters' current political mood. It would be premature to say that the election results confirm that Trump's extreme policies are unpopular. However, NYC has often set the political, cultural, and financial course of the country. Both Republicans and Democrats, the two dominant parties, had their eyes on NYC to provide clues before preparing for the mid-term elections next year.

Overall, Mamdani's victory can be attributed to a combination of strategic campaigning, effective communication, and the political landscape that favoured a change from traditional candidates. Zohran Kwame Mamdani, born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani of Gujarati descent, managed to marshal grassroots support from a multicultural, diverse community, including Black and Hispanic minorities and immigrants from South Asia.

Before his mayoral candidacy, he was a social activist. He served for four years as a member of the New York state legislature from the 36th district, representing the Queens neighbourhood of Astoria. As a socialist, he gained the support of a left-leaning organisation named "Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM)," a multi-generational organisation of South Asian immigrants in NYC espousing social and economic justice. He promised higher minimum wages, free childcare, rent control, and free bus service.

The rise of Mamdani electrified the large immigrant communities living in and around NYC. For many struggling with the high cost of living in the New York metropolitan area, the rags to riches story of Mamdani has offered a renewed sense of hope and a glimmer of a future that will bring them closer to the American dream. Polls largely underestimated Zohran Mamdani's support in the Democratic primary for the NYC mayor, but he emerged as the party's candidate after winning 56 percent of the vote. His overwhelming victory on November 4 capped the year-long effort to mobilise the South Asian community and the underprivileged segments of the megacity.

Mamdani's election came at a critical time for the underclass in the US. The federal government crisis is in its sixth week, and the Trump administration is carrying on with its cuts in various sectors and rounding up of undocumented immigrants. The country is reeling from the longest government shutdown in history. Mamdani's election reignited the dormant Democrats and offered the majority a chance to claim political power. The results of the NYC and gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia should give Republicans a nudge to reconsider the tactics they have been following over the last year.

As the new mayor takes office in January, he will have a tough uphill battle in order to deliver on his promises and to stay clear of the federal government's wrath. President Trump had previously warned that if Zohran Mamdani were to win, it would be "highly unlikely" that the city would receive federal funding beyond a bare minimum.

The new administration will need the commitment of both the New York governor and the assembly to get the funding and resources for the free bus, free day care, and free food programmes promised by Mamdani. "Implementing his vision will demand far more than pious intentions; it will require sustained support and cooperation from diverse political stakeholders, including those in Albany," veteran journalist Hasan Ferdous, who now lives in New York wrote to me in a private communication.

The newly elected mayor will also face some tough opposition from the business community. To quote Sudesh Chohan, a small business owner from Flushing, Queens, from an article in The New York Times, "I've been working hard for 45 years. I don't want my tax dollars going to someone who can work but chooses not to."

Therefore, Mamdani's victory, while a reaffirmation of faith in participatory democracy and the power of collective action, is not the ultimate test for progressive ideals. Rather, as he takes office, his ability to deliver on his promises will be closely watched—not just in New York, but around the world.

Dr Abdullah Shibli is an economist working at a non-profit fiscal intermediary. He previously worked for the World Bank and Harvard University.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own. 

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