44 h. ago For Muslims, Mamdani’s rise signifies a new way of looking at who represents America

The New York mayoral candidate has piqued the interest of South Asian Americans and Muslims – not only because of his identity, but his platform, tooZohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor has a group of Pakistani American aunties and uncles so excited that they are wondering if they should have given their own children more freedom in choosing their careers. “What if we let our kids become politicians, and not just doctors and engineers?” a member of the grassroots political organizing group, DRUM Beats, asked at a small celebration held at an Islamic school last month in south Brooklyn.DRUM Beats, which represents New York City’s working class South Asian and Indo-Caribbean populations, was one of the first grassroots groups to endorse Mamdani, when he launched his campaign in October – long before he became a household name. More than 300 volunteers, who spoke near a dozen languages, knocked on at least 10,000 doors to support him. DRUM Beats says...

Politics

64 h. ago New York’s mayoral race exposes the deep roots of American Islamophobia | Ahmed Moor

Islamophobic attacks on Zohran Mamdani are a reminder of the difference between individual and structural prejudiceMy only interaction with the FBI came soon after 11 September 2001. A man and woman visited my family’s home in Philadelphia – we had recently moved from Palestine – showed their credentials and asked to enter. My parents invited them in and a conversation about political views followed. They left soon afterwards but I knew we were suspect, and I understood why.At the time, I was in high school. Two or three years later, one of my sisters, who wore the hijab then, was confronted by an elderly white man at a department store. “What’s the significance of the trash you’re wearing on your head?” he asked.Ahmed Moor is a writer and fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago What should Jewish New Yorkers make of Zohran Mamdani? | Beth Miller and Jo

Jo-Ann Mort and Beth Miller go head to head on Zohran MamdaniWhile headlines would have you believe otherwise, Jewish New Yorkers supported Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary in droves. We showed up because our communities want to live and thrive alongside our neighbors in an affordable city where no one is left behind, and because we want a mayor who believes in Palestinian human rights.Beth Miller is the political director of Jewish Voice for Peace ActionJo-Ann Mort is co-author of Our Hearts Invented a Place: Can Kibbutzim Survive in Today’s Israel? She writes frequently about Israel for US, UK, and Israeli publications Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Andrew Cuomo announces run for New York City mayor as an independent

Former governor lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani by more than 12 points last monthAndrew Cuomo, former New York governor, said Monday that he will run as an independent in New York City’s mayoral race, after losing in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani.Many saw Cuomo as the favorite in the primary, but he ultimately lost to Mamdani, a current member of the New York state assembly, by more than 12 points. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago I was on New York’s rent board. Zohran Mamdani’s ideas aren’t pie in the sky | Leah Goodridge

The Democratic mayoral candidate has faced controversy over his calls for a rent freeze. But the plan has plenty of precedent During the New York City mayoral primary campaign, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a citywide rent freeze became a contentious topic. The Democratic nominee says to achieve a cap on annual rent increases for the city’s 1m rent-stabilized apartments, he would appoint members to the city’s rent guidelines board who support it. Critics decry a rent freeze as a pie-in-the-sky, unrealistic proposal.I served as a rent guidelines board member for nearly four years, appointed by then mayor Bill de Blasio in 2018. And it’s clear this controversy isn’t just about rent freezes – there’s a larger agenda to deregulate rent-stabilized housing, under which rent ceilings prevent landlords from raising the rent too high and tenants must be offered renewal leases (unless the landlord shows legal reason not to). Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Here’s what the Democrats can learn from Zohran Mamdani | Judith Levine

The lessons of Zohran’s victory are hopeful for the left and the Democrats – if the party takes them to heartIn a lifetime of activism, I have canvassed and phone-banked, raised money, and twisted arms for dozens of political candidates. Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Indian-Ugandan democratic socialist and presumptive winner of the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, is the only one I’ve both supported without reservation and believed could win.Volunteering for a campaign always teaches you something. Often, it’s discouraging – like the moment my partner and I saw Hillary Clinton’s team selling lawn signs for $25 instead of blanketing Philadelphia by distributing them free, and predicted she’d lose. But the lessons of Zohran’s victory are hopeful for the left and the Democrats – if the party takes them to heart.Judith Levine is a Brooklyn journalist and essayist, a contributing writer to the Intercept and the author of five books Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago CNN panelist calls Mamdani a ‘Muslim AOC’ and says Democrats have ‘death wish’ for tapping him as NYC mayor

Jonah Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, said that Mamdani’s victory in the New York Democratic mayoral primary was ‘disastrous’ for the city.

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2 w. ago Zohran Mamdani won by being himself – and his victory has revealed the Islamophobic ugliness of others | Nesrine Malik

The vicious reaction to his New York mayoral success tells us this: the establishment will not countenance mainstream voters making common cause with MuslimsZohran Mamdani’s stunning win in New York’s mayoral primary has been a tale of two cities, and two Americas. In one, a young man with hopeful, progressive politics went up against the decaying gods of the establishment, with their giant funding and networks and endorsements from Democratic scions, and won. In another, in an appalling paroxysm of racism and Islamophobia, a Muslim antisemite has taken over the most important city in the US, with an aim to impose some socialist/Islamist regime. Like effluent, pungent and smearing, anti-Muslim hate spread unchecked and unchallenged after Mamdani’s win. It takes a lot from the US to shock these days, but Mamdani has managed to stir, or expose, an obscene degree of mainstreamed prejudice.Politicians, public figures, members of Donald Trump’s administration and the cesspit of social me...

Politics

3 w. ago Does Zohran Mamdani’s New York primary victory offer roadmap for Democrats?

Many believe Mamdani’s triumph shows it’s time for national party to evolve but others say his brand of politics won’t appeal in key battlegroundsThe Friday night before election day, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist running for mayor of New York City, walked the length of Manhattan, from Inwood Hill Park at its northern tip to the Battery – about 13 miles. Along the way, he was greeted by a stream of New Yorkers enjoying the sticky summer night – men rose from their folding chairs to shake his hand, drivers honked in support and diners leapt up to snap a selfie with the would-be leader of their city.A feelgood video of his trek, produced by Mamdani’s campaign, captures the “only in New York” quality of his ascendance, from little-known assembly member to the all-but-official Democratic nominee for mayor of America’s largest city. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago A roadmap to beat Trump? How rise of Zohran Mamdani is dividing Democrats

Many believe Mamdani’s triumph shows it is time for national party to evolve but others say his brand of politics will not appeal in key battlegroundsThe Friday night before election day, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist running for mayor of New York City, walked the length of Manhattan, from Inwood Hill Park at its northern tip to the Battery – about 13 miles. Along the way, he was greeted by a stream of New Yorkers enjoying the sticky summer night – men rose from their folding chairs to shake his hand, drivers honked in support and diners leapt up to snap a selfie with the would-be leader of their city.A feelgood video of his trek, produced by Mamdani’s campaign, captures the “only in New York” quality of his ascendance, from little-known assembly member to the all-but-official Democratic nominee for mayor of America’s largest city. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Mamdani heads to Harlem after stunning New York City primary results

Zohran Mamdani spoke at a rally in Harlem as he sought to build on momentum from New York City’s Democratic primary

Politics

3 w. ago Cuomo to stay in New York mayoral race despite Mamdani besting him in primary – report

Ex-governor failed to secure Democratic nomination this week but still plans to run on ‘Fight and Delivery’ ballot lineFormer New York governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly plans to run as an independent candidate in the New York City’s mayoral race, days after finding himself bested in the Democratic primary by progressive insurgent candidate Zohran Mamdani.Several news outlets reported late on Thursday that Cuomo, 67, part of a long and powerful political dynasty in New York, would not withdraw after conceding the primary to democratic socialist newcomer Mamdani, who is now the favorite in the race and could become the city’s first Muslim mayor at the general election in November. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago How Zohran Mamdani's 'joyous' ground game helped him topple Andrew Cuomo in NYC's primary

Zohran Mamdani's surge to the top in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary came with the help of an army of volunteers who set a goal of knocking on 1 million doors to get votes

Politics

3 w. ago Mamdani faces barrage of Islamophobic attacks after New York primary success

State assembly member subjected to death threats and xenophobic rhetoric from Republican figures“Hamas terrorist sympathizer”, “jihadist terrorist”, calls for deportation and predictions of another 9/11 – these are among the torrent of Islamophobic attacks that have erupted across social media and conservative political circles following Zohran Mamdani’s success in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.The 33-year-old state assembly member, a democratic socialist who would become the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city, has been subjected to a barrage of death threats and xenophobic rhetoric from prominent Republican figures and online activists since his primary win became apparent. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Mamdani stood firm in his support for Gaza. The Democratic party could learn from him | Yousef Munayyer

Few issues highlight how out of touch Democratic leaders are than the issue of Palestine – Mamdani chose a different pathAs the ballots were counted on Wednesday in the Democratic primary election for mayor in New York City, a young candidate with little national name recognition, Zohran Mamdani, stood atop a slate of candidates including the runner-up, and favorite, Andrew Cuomo. There are several reasons why Mamdani was able to pull off this remarkable victory, putting him on track to compete favorably in the mayoral election in November, and many of them have implications for elections outside New York City.But one area where the contrast between the candidates could not be clearer was on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Mamdani, for his part, stood with protesters, demanded the release of Mahmoud Khalil, and called out Israel’s war crimes. Mamdani even pledged he’d have the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, an indicted war criminal, arrested if he came to New York City wh...

Politics

3 w. ago Mamdani stood firm in his support of Gaza. The Democratic party could learn from him | Yousef Munayyer

Few issues highlight how out of touch Democratic leaders are than the issue of Palestine – Mamdani chose a different pathAs the ballots were counted on Wednesday in the Democratic primary election for mayor in New York City, a young candidate with little national name recognition, Zohran Mamdani, stood atop a slate of candidates including the runner-up, and favorite, Andrew Cuomo. There are several reasons why Mamdani was able to pull off this remarkable victory, putting him on track to compete favorably in the mayoral election in November, and many of them have implications for elections outside New York City.But one area where the contrast between the candidates could not be clearer was on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Mamdani, for his part, stood with protesters, demanded the release of Mahmoud Khalil, and called out Israel’s war crimes. Mamdani even pledged he’d have the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, an indicted war criminal, arrested if he came to New York City wh...

Politics

3 w. ago Mamdani says leftwing populist victory can be replicated across US

Democratic socialist tells MSNBC his campaign against Cuomo shows leftist politics can thrive beyond New YorkZohran Mamdani, in his first major interview since his upset victory in the Democratic party’s mayoral primary in New York shook up US politics, said his brand of campaigning and leftist political stances can translate to anywhere in the US.Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, stunned many observers by beating Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday night, delivering a devastating blow to the former New York governor who ran a centrist campaign backed by most of the party establishment. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump brands Zohran Mamdani a ‘100% communist lunatic’ backed by ‘dummies’ who has a ‘grating’ voice

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, won New York City’s Democratic primary on Tuesday and now faces reelection bid from current mayor Eric Adams, who will run as an independent

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3 w. ago Trump slams Zohran Mamdani as Republicans go on attack after New York mayoral primary – as it happened

This blog has now closed. Read our latest story hereAs the Democratic party fights to rebuild from a devastating election defeat, the abrupt exit of the presidents of two of the nation’s largest labor unions from its top leadership board has exposed simmering tensions over the party’s direction.Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders quit the Democratic National Committee, saying it isn’t doing enough to “open the gates” and win back the support of working-class voters. Ken Martin, the new DNC chair, and his allies told the Guardian that the party was focused on doing exactly that. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump brands Mamdani a ‘100% Communist Lunatic’ backed by ‘dummies’ who has a ‘grating’ voice

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, won New York City’s Democratic primary on Tuesday and now faces reelection bid from current mayor Eric Adams, who will run as an independent

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