Why Mamdani’s Win Terrifies the Right — And What’s Next

Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor marks a significant advance for progressive politics, winning broad support despite a right-wing backlash, Islamophobic attacks, and red-baiting from both Republicans and the Democratic establishment.

Rania Khalek and Eugene Puryear discuss how his modest reforms like taxing billionaires slightly more, subsidizing groceries, and expanding public transit—policies designed to ease inequality without threatening capitalism— proposals triggered panic among elites. While the victory is significant, Puryear and Khalek emphasize the limits of reform within entrenched capitalist structures and the need for ongoing grassroots pressure to hold the administration accountable.

Mamdani’s win is historic — but “you can’t resolve the contradictions of capitalism within capitalism,” says @EugenePuryear

The right will scream “socialism failed” if he doesn’t deliver everything. People must “stay mobilized”