By Ruby Schutzbank
On November 4th Zohran Mamdani was elected Mayor of New York City. According to AP Government and Politics teacher Mary Berat, Mamdani’s win is remarkable because, “[He] is the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City. At age 34, he will also be the city's youngest mayor since 1892.” His win was due to many factors, including his use of social media platforms as well as his focus on economic issues.
Much of Mamdani’s success among young voters can be attributed to a social media focused campaign; viral videos showed his authenticity and created a connection to voters. Mamdani’s social media presence was aided by others using his viral audio clips as “sounds” in their Instagram and Tiktok videos. One clip that went viral was from a debate when he stood up to Andrew Cuomo, who had been mispronouncing his name. In another clip where, as he rides a bike, a pedestrian calls him a communist. Mamdani quickly responded by saying, “It’s pronounced cyclist.” Voters admired his assertiveness and quick wit.
Mamdani’s economic politics also led to his win. Ms. Berat explains how the race’s economic focus could affect voting, “The election saw very high voter turnout - the highest in a mayoral race in decades. Historically, elections that focus on economic issues often have higher turnout rates.” Mamdani ran on guarantees for cheaper groceries, affordable rent, and making public buses free. This speaks to many New York City residents, as they have seen their rents rise and MTA increase their base fare. Another of Mamdani’s policies is free childcare for all children of 6 weeks to 5 years. He will raise corporate taxes to 11.5% and increase taxes for New Yorkers who make over $1 million a year.
This election reveals how much New Yorkers need a more affordable city and connects to bigger trends in politics. Berat stated, “One notable trend in recent elections is the increasing focus on candidates themselves rather than their political parties. Campaigns often emphasize a candidate’s personal background, ideas, and leadership style.” These trends connect to how Mamdani had to highlight his ideas for the city to separate him from his, also democratic, opponent. It also relates Mamdani’s use of social media to connect to his city’s voters. In the future, politicians will continue to use their social media platforms to emphasize who they are. Mamdani’s win is not only important for New York, but for trends in politics as a whole.