Zohran Mamdani was the underdog in every pre-election poll in the New York Democratic mayoral primary. He was up against firm favorite Andrew Cuomo, who could boast a colossal election warchest, the might of the DNC behind him, a bevvy of heavyweight endorsements, and the establishment media firmly in his corner.
On paper, a 33-year-old socialist Muslim with little name recognition going into the campaign shouldn’t have stood a chance. But Mamdani put in the legwork, constantly meeting New Yorkers, communicating his ideas to make the city a nicer place to live, deploying an army of committed volunteers, and running a highly successful social media campaign.
And, in last night’s first round, Mamdani crushed Cuomo with 43.5% of the vote to 36.4% (after 93% of votes counted). Cuomo quickly conceded, congratulating Mamdani on his “really smart and good and impactful campaign” while Mamdani celebrated, telling supporters: “Tonight, we made history. I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City.”
“Flee while you can! Flee!”
For progressives around the world, there’s widespread jubilation that Mamdani has triumphed. But, predictably, the right are treating the prospect of a socialist mayor of New York like the apocalypse is here. Let’s peek in on how they’re doing. First up, we may as well start with Charlie Kirk, who decided racism was the way to go:
24 years ago a group of Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 25, 2025
Now a Muslim Socialist is on pace to run New York City
Other commentators cranked up the drama by advising people to “flee while you still can”, presumably from the nightmare dystopia of *checks notes* free bus fares and rent controls:
New York City has fallen. My advice: flee while you still can.
— Bushie
The city of New York will soon become unrecognizable and trash filled like London and Paris.
Very sad. They still have a chance to stop him in November, but seeing how brainwashed New Yorkers are I have no hope. pic.twitter.com/QvfbaEzzpf(@OldNewRight) June 25, 2025
Ari Fleischer had similar sentiments, demanding an emergency evacuation:
Evacuate New York City now!
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) June 25, 2025
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
“Zionist activist movement” Betar Worldwide went on to spread fear by also urging “all Jews to evacuate NYC”:
We urge all Jews to evacuate NYC. https://t.co/vyvUHBXbEI
— Betar Worldwide (@Betar_USA) June 25, 2025
And, for more wingnut point of view, it’s claimed that Mamdani will deliver “a modern holocaust from a Muslim-Communist leader”:
Yikes!!! Voting for Zohan Mamdani is the beginning of NYC’s death.
— Tina B (@TinaBurns1316) June 25, 2025
The Jewish community must wake up. Otherwise, they will experience a modern holocaust from a Muslim-Communist leader https://t.co/hnBpIhasew
And, for Laura Loomer, this is nothing less than a “communist jihadist takeover of NYC”:
Of course you love Jihad and communism.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) June 25, 2025
Take a look at the way Democrats are cheering for the communist jihadist takeover of NYC. https://t.co/UEXJDkjzEH
Guys, perhaps people would take you a little more seriously if you weren’t quite so insane and dramatic. Cry harder, because Mamdani is, in actuality, a fairly typical social democrat whose ambitions are to create a city in which: “New Yorkers can afford their rent, can afford public transit, can afford their child care, can afford their groceries — one where New Yorkers can do more than worry each and every hour of each and every day whether or not they can continue living in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the world”.
So, congratulations to him and his team for this historic political upset. But, as they undoubtedly know, the hard work is only just beginning.
