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by Theodore Hamm (Author)
Meet Mayor Mamdani maps how a groundbreaking candidate and his dynamic campaign for New York City mayor toppled a Democratic Party dynasty and ran circles around MAGA.
34-year-old Zohran's straightforward, openly democratic socialist platform-a rent freeze, free buses, universal childcare, and city-run grocery stores--resonated across the increasingly unaffordable city.
But Mamdani's job wasn't assured after winning the primary against "prince of darkness" Andrew Cuomo and his billionaire allies. Trump enthusiasts targeted Zohran's heritage and support for Palestinian rights, unleashing a torrent of Islamophobic hate. Mamdani's canny instincts helped him outmaneuver local and national power players alike.
Mamdani expanded his June coalition by bringing aboard city unions and stumping with mainstream Democratic Party leaders like Tish James. Steered by NYC-DSA, the campaign's massive outreach operation saw over 100,000 volunteers interact with over three million New Yorkers. Zohran scored over 1.1 million votes, the highest total of any New York City mayoral candidate since John Lindsay in 1965.
As fast-paced and compelling as its subject, Meet Mayor Mamdani reveals how a charismatic candidate and a vibrant grassroots campaign stayed ahead of the competition and set the stage for democratic socialism at City Hall.
Author Biography
Theodore Hamm is the author of Bernie's Brooklyn: How Growing Up in the New Deal City Shaped Bernie Sanders' Politics. He wrote about the 2025 race for The Indypendent and Drop Site, and his articles about New York City politics have also appeared in Jacobin. Hamm is chair of journalism at St. Joseph's University in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
