Multiple democratic socialists line up to succeed Mamdani
In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s surprising victory in the New York City mayoral race, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is gearing up for a competitive bid to fill his vacated seat in the New York State Assembly. The 34-year-old Mamdani’s success has invigorated the DSA, leading several prominent members to announce their intentions to run for Assembly District 36, which encompasses parts of Astoria in western Queens. Among the contenders is Rana Abdelhamid, an Egyptian American community organizer known for her advocacy within the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities. Abdelhamid has previously campaigned against established political figures, including a primary challenge to former Rep. Carolyn Maloney in 2022, and has been instrumental in pushing for better demographic representation for MENA groups in state data collection.
The DSA’s influence in New York politics continues to grow, particularly with the potential candidacies of Abdelhamid and former Queens DSA co-chair Diana Moreno, who is also expected to receive the DSA’s endorsement. Moreno, who has a strong background in immigrant advocacy and community organizing, expressed her commitment to supporting Mamdani’s agenda in Albany. She initially hesitated to run due to family commitments but was motivated to change her mind by the political climate and the pressing needs of working families in her district. Her campaign emphasizes the importance of affordable childcare and a commitment to progressive values, resonating with the DSA’s broader mission. As the DSA prepares to support these candidates, the upcoming Assembly race is poised to be a significant indicator of the organization’s growing power and influence in New York City politics.
With the DSA’s membership exceeding 11,200, including notable figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the stakes are high for both Abdelhamid and Moreno. A victory in this Assembly seat would not only solidify the DSA’s foothold in local governance but also signal a continued shift towards progressive policies in one of the country’s largest cities. The political landscape in Astoria is evolving, and as candidates like Abdelhamid and Moreno step forward, they embody a new wave of leadership that seeks to address the needs of diverse communities while pushing for systemic change. The upcoming election in Assembly District 36 will undoubtedly be a focal point for observers of New York’s political scene, as it reflects the broader trends shaping the Democratic Party and the DSA’s role within it.
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Several members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) appear to be lining up to clinch
Zohran Mamdani
’s New York State Assembly seat after the 34-year-old stunned the political landscape to become the city’s next mayor.
Rana Abdelhamid, an Egyptian American and Muslim community organizer, has filed to run for Assembly District 36, the western Queens district that covers the Astoria neighborhood, according to
City & State
, citing state Board of Elections records.
Meanwhile, DSA leaders have already recruited former Queens DSA co-chair Diana Moreno to run for the seat, while local reports indicate that Mary Jobaida, a past candidate for a neighboring district, may also run.
Abdelhamid is a member of the New York City chapter of the DSA. The chapter is the largest in the country, with more than 11,200 members, including Mamdani and Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
, D-N.Y. Tiffany Cabán, the Astoria neighborhood’s city council member, is also a DSA member.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI LANDS KEY ENDORSEMENT IN NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL RACE
A DSA win in this race would mark another step in the group’s growing influence over New York politics.
Abdelhamid previously mounted a 2022 primary challenge against then-Rep. Carolyn Maloney, whose district included both the Upper East Side and western Queens. She dropped out of the race after the district’s boundaries were redrawn to exclude Queens, the outlet reported.
Abdelhamid is deeply involved with the
Middle Eastern and North African
(MENA) community in Astoria and helped lead a successful push for the state to collect more accurate demographic data on MENA communities, according to City & State
.
She also founded a women’s self-defense organization called Malikah and previously told the outlet that she grew up in Astoria, in a part of the neighborhood nicknamed “Little Egypt.”
Sources told the outlet that Moreno will likely receive the DSA endorsement.
LINDA SARSOUR TELLS FOLLOWERS SHE WILL ‘HOLD ZOHRAN ACCOUNTABLE’ IF MAMDANI WINS NYC MAYORAL RACE
Moreno, who also lives in Astoria, was co-chair of
NYC-DSA’s Queens branch
from 2021 to 2023 and served as the organization’s communications coordinator from 2023 to 2024. She is also the former deputy director of the immigrant advocacy group New Immigrant Community Empowerment.
“I’m preparing to run for Zohran’s Assembly seat so our future mayor has an unwavering ally in Albany committed to helping him deliver an affordable NYC!” Moreno posted on Instagram two weeks ago, sharing a story about her candidacy on City & State
.
“As a Queens mom, an immigrant organizer, and a democratic socialist, I’m ready to fight for the working people of Queens! LET’S WIN THIS.”
Moreno said she was initially approached by the DSA to run but declined, citing the demands of traveling to Albany, given that she has a young child.
She said she had changed her mind because of what she described as the Trump administration’s “rising authoritarianism” and a need to deliver for working families in her district. Her top legislative priority is free and universal child care.
Moreno’s profile shows her participating in several pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the city.
