Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, defeated Andrew Cuomo on June 24, 2025. His victory raises eyebrows about the left’s digital playbook.
As reported by Fox News, Mamdani’s win marks a seismic shift, blending progressive policies with influencer-style social media to topple establishment favorite Cuomo. This outcome, fueled by taxing-the-rich rhetoric and government-run grocery proposals, signals a generational pivot in the Democratic Party.
TikTok and Instagram became Mamdani’s battleground, where he posted videos with film-like filters and celebrity cameos from Emily Ratajkowski and Bowen Yang.
These clips, racking up millions of views, turned politics into entertainment. While effective, it’s a slippery slope when governance mimics a reality show.
AOC and Bernie Sanders threw their weight behind Mamdani, amplifying his progressive cred. AOC’s Instagram Live with him on June 24, 2025. Yet, banking on star power risks alienating voters who crave substance over sizzle.
Mamdani’s social media stunts included walking Manhattan from Inwood to Battery Park on June 20, 2025, livestreaming the trek. He also rode CitiBikes with NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, securing a cross-endorsement that outsmarted Cuomo in ranked-choice voting.
These moves were clever, but they beg the question: Is this leadership or performance art?
Mamdani’s campaign looked to be just chasing likes. He even spoke Hindi in a two-minute video explaining ranked-choice voting. Still, pandering to every demographic who he feels like he can manipulate.
His ranked-choice strategy was explained in a quirky video where he poured juice into cups with his and Cuomo’s faces photoshopped on them. “If I win, that rent’s getting frozen,” Mamdani quipped, jabbing at Cuomo’s landlord-friendly reputation. Bold, but rent freezes often backfire, squeezing supply and spiking costs.
“If Andrew Cuomo wins, the rent’s going up,” he added, painting a stark choice. It’s a classic populist tactic: scare voters into siding with you. Conservatives know this game—promise the moon, deliver a crater.
Surprisingly, Mamdani won over some wealthy New Yorkers, despite his tax-the-1% mantra. His coalition even included Trump and Eric Adams voters, showing an odd knack for bridging divides. But governing a city this diverse requires more than a big tent; it demands results.
He joined David Hogg for TikTok-style interviews in Washington Square Park, trying to pull from the activist’s digital clout.
This wasn’t your granddad’s campaign trail—it was a digital circus. Yet, turning politics into content risks trivializing the stakes.
“One week ago today, we shocked the establishment and redrew the political map,” Mamdani boasted post-victory. He’s not wrong, but “redrawing the map” with socialist policies could scare off the business community that keeps NYC humming.
Bravado is one thing; governing is another.
