Editorial: Mamdani win a triumph of wishful thinking over reality
In the recent off-year elections, Democrats celebrated notable victories, securing governorships in New Jersey and Virginia, and successfully passing a California ballot measure that permits gerrymandering of congressional districts. These outcomes have led many political analysts to speculate about their implications for the 2026 midterms, where control of the U.S. House and Senate will be contested. However, while these wins are significant, they also underscore the challenges the party faces; a failure in these traditionally blue states would have signaled deeper issues within the Democratic Party. The historical trend suggests that the party in power often struggles in midterm elections, a fact that Republicans may leverage as they regroup for future contests.
The most striking result came from New York City, where 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in a three-way mayoral race, garnering 50.4% of the vote. Mamdani, a self-identified socialist, is known for his progressive policies, which include stringent rent controls, government-operated grocery stores, and substantial tax increases on the wealthy. His election raises questions about the viability of far-left candidates on a national scale, especially in a city with a significant Jewish population, given his strong anti-Israel stance. Mamdani’s win represents a clash within the Democratic Party, highlighting the tension between progressive ideals and more centrist approaches that have recently proven successful in other states. While his administration will be somewhat constrained by the New York Legislature, observers are left wondering whether his far-left policies will resonate beyond the city’s borders, or if they will remain a localized phenomenon that the broader electorate finds unappealing.
H.L. Mencken wrote, “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.” Hello, New York City.
On Tuesday, a handful of states held off-year elections, and Democrats enjoyed a good night, comfortably winning governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia. They also prevailed in a California ballot measure that allows Democrats to gerrymander congressional districts to pick up seats in Congress.
Many pundits hailed the victories as a harbinger of the 2026 midterms, when control of the U.S. House and Senate is at stake — and perhaps that will be the case. But, in fact, it would have been a bigger story had Democrats stumbled in three states that vote reliably blue. In addition, one year is an eternity in politics, although Republicans face challenges, particularly given the historical record involving midterms and the party that occupies the White House.
Perhaps the most-watched race, however, was the New York City mayoral election. As anticipated, Zohran Mamdani prevailed in the three-way contest, winning 50.4% of the vote.
Mamdani, 34, is a charismatic socialist who has limited experience in the private sector and seems utterly unconcerned about his guiding philosophy’s long track record of creating misery. His victory embodies the triumph of wishful thinking over reality. His platform — more stringent rent control, government-run grocery stores, free day care, free public transit, massive tax hikes on the rich — is a laundry list of counterproductive or failed policies that appeal to class warfare aficionados. He is virulently anti-Israel in a city with the nation’s largest Jewish population.
Mamdani touted his victory as the onset of a “new age.” But are far-left Democrats electable on a national stage? The story of Mamdani is a microcosm of the internal conflict within competing factions of the Democratic Party.
There’s a reasonable argument that progressive extremism and “woke” policies explain the rise of President Donald Trump and recent GOP electoral success. Indeed, the Democrats who prevailed in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races ran close to the center. While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her “squad” grab the attention, they win races only in House districts drawn to favor progressives. Sen. Bernie Sanders, another socialist, may have wider influence, but it’s worth remembering that Democrats pulled the 2020 presidential nomination out from under him because they feared Trump would clobber him.
Mamdani will be checked somewhat by the New York Legislature, so perhaps the damage he can inflict will be limited. Meanwhile, large pockets of the country now hope that what happens in New York City stays in New York City.
Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service
Editorial cartoon by Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate)
