Zohran Mamdani victory in NYC mayoral primary is political earthquake for the Democratic Party

Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory over three-term ex-Gov.Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday’s mayoral primary is a “political earthquake” that will pressure the national Democratic Party to move further left, political analysts told The Post.Dems who got trounced by President Trump and the GOP last year will have to pay more attention to the views of progressive, younger voters who propelled Mamdani’s candidacy — as well as struggling working class voters — as they prepare for midterm congressional elections, strategists, pollsters and union leaders said.“It’s an important moment in political history,” said Basil Smikle, a former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party and senior aide to then-Sen.

Hillary Clinton.“He toppled a big name.It’s an amazing feat,” Smikle said.Cuomo conceded to Mamdani Tuesday night, after trailing by roughly 70,000 votes — or 43% to 36% — with 96% of the precincts reported.“Mamdani’s victory provides a moment for progressives and younger voters to shape the future of the Democratic Party.

There is no doubt,” Smikle said.Mamdani, 33, a two-term Queens assemblyman, replicated on a citywide scale what fellow socialist Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accomplished in one congressional district when she toppled former Congressman Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary, with a new coalition that included younger voters.“It’s a political earthquake,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.“An unknown defeating Andrew Cuomo is a changing of the guard.

More Democratic voters are younger and their views have to be taken into account.”Smikle said the support that Mamdani assembled also reminded him of the multi-racial coalition that David Dinkins drew together to get elected New York City’s first black mayor in 1989.Others mentioned former President Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the White House, defeating Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary in...