University of Kwazulu-Natal

Lessons We Can Learn From The Victory Of New York Mayor Elect Zohran

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
lessons we can learn from the victory of new york mayor elect zohran

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race is more than an improbable municipal election win; it is a template for Democratic revival, one that can marry socioeconomic policies and message discipline... I first interviewed Mamdani shortly after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris left the Democratic Party in tatters. Already a declared candidate, the unabashed democratic socialist spoke with hyperfixation on affordability and the need to reorient the Democratic Party away from Wall Street and toward the working class. I interviewed Mamdani multiple times over the next year, including amid a surge of Islamophobic attacks in the final weeks of the mayoral campaign. Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke of an ugly fear permeating American politics. Voters responded to his message that treated dignity and pocketbook concerns as inseparable from some of the pressing moral issues of our time, such as deportations of immigrants and the genocide in Gaza.

The significance of Mamdani’s triumph, and the lessons it underscores, cannot be fully appreciated without understanding the political context in which it happened. His campaign was fought under the shadow of organized disinformation and overt bigotry. His campaign was fought under the shadow of organized disinformation and overt bigotry. Democrat Zohran Mamdani's historic NYC mayoral victory marks a significant political realignment. His 24-minute victory speech outlined principles that political analysts say transcend traditional party lines—lessons about organizing, messaging, and connecting with working-class voters that both Democrats and Republicans must study. Zohran Mamdani delivered a 24-minute victory speech to supporters in Brooklyn after his projected win in the 2025 New York City mayoral election, marking a watershed moment in American urban politics.

The Democratic candidate, running explicitly as a democratic socialist and Muslim candidate, toppled the Cuomo political dynasty and defeated the conventional wisdom that working-class voters would reject his unapologetic platform. “Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands, my friends. We have toppled a political dynasty,” Mamdani declared to a roaring crowd of supporters who had invested more than 100,000 volunteer hours into the campaign. His victory represents not just a personal triumph but a comprehensive rejection of establishment politics, according to the candidate’s own framing. Mamdani positioned his win as a mandate for a fundamentally different approach to governance—one that centers working people and rejects what he characterized as politics serving “only the few.”

Mamdani’s campaign succeeded against opponents with vastly greater financial resources by maintaining unwavering message discipline. His victory speech crystallized a single, repeated promise: making New York “a city we can afford.” I have been reflecting on the New York City mayoral race during and since Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. I watched his campaign very closely. As someone who is interested in emerging leadership styles and leadership lessons, there’s something different about him and his messaging. As leaders, whether in business, nonprofit, politics, or community settings, we’re often looking for fresh lessons in how to engage, inspire, and deliver.

Zohran Mamdani’s campaign offers several such takeaways. Here are some key leadership lessons from his race, and how they apply to any team or organization. Mamdani built momentum by doing more than speaking at communities. He went to them and not the other way around. He listened to New Yorkers who felt ignored and bridged divides by acknowledging lived struggles rather than distancing himself. Oftentimes, leaders fail to connect with their people or listen to their issues.

Therefore, this is a simple act, actively seeking voices you might normally miss. Prioritize listening as much as speaking. When people feel heard, they become part of something bigger. His campaign repeatedly emphasized one thing: affordability. Rent, transit, cost of living. By staying tightly aligned with that theme, he cut through noise.

So, for leaders, define the core value you deliver and make sure it speaks to a real need. Avoid message drift. When your team understands why, your partners will align. Mayor-elect Mamdani was noted for mastering newer media, particularly vertical‐video and social platforms, in a way many traditional campaigns did not. One of my biggest pet peeves is defaulting to “this is how we’ve always done it.” Understand where your audience is and how they prefer to engage. Innovation in communication can set you apart.

This applies to any business, any leader. I have watched Zohran Mamdani’s almost 24-minute-long acceptance speech a few times since he delivered it last week following his historic win in the mayoral race for New York City. Mamdani started that speech off with a quote from Eugene Debs, an American socialist activist, trade unionist, and one of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who served in the... “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity,” Mamdani said. For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and well-connected that power does not belong in their hands. Fingers bruised from lifting boxes off the warehouse floor.

Palms calloused by delivery bike handlebars. Knuckles scarred from kitchen burns. These are not hands that have been allowed to hold power. Zohran Mamdani’s astounding triumph shows the power of bread-and-butter economics and the bankruptcy of the Democratic establishment. But how many of its lessons can be applied nationally? While college-educated voters may be sufficient to win a New York City Democratic primary, that is not at all the reality in key swing states and districts where the numbers simply don’t add up.

(Zohran for Mayor) Jacobin‘s winter issue, “Municipal Socialism,” is out now. Follow this link to get a discounted subscription to our beautiful print quarterly. Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor was a massive, earth-shaking upset. When he announced his campaign last October, insiders scoffed: “Could this pro-Palestinian socialist really be NYC’s next mayor?” ran the headline at City & State. For Politico’s New York Playbook, he was little more than “a longshot,” whose presence in the race might damage established progressives like Brad Lander or Jessica Ramos.

Less than a month ago, betting markets gave him a 6 percent chance of defeating the heavy favorite Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani won anyway — not by eking it out in the seventh round of ranked-choice voting but topping Cuomo among first-choice ballots and claiming outright victory on election night. His triumph sends a clear message: a bold populist campaign and a laser-like focus on economic issues can break through to voters, even when insiders, billionaires, and the party establishment line up in opposition. Mamdani’s stunning victory offers some vivid lessons for left-wing politics, both in New York City and beyond. On November 5, 2025, New York City witnessed a historic moment as 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and proud Muslim, was elected as the city's new mayor—the youngest in over a century. His victory is not merely a local triumph but a potential bellwether for the Democratic Party as it faces unprecedented challenges.

Just months prior, Mamdani was a little-known figure, polling at less than 1%. His rise was meteoric, culminating in garnering more votes than any candidate since 1969, surpassing even Michael Bloomberg's previous totals. What factors catalyzed this remarkable turnaround? Mamdani's success, while not necessarily indicative of a nationwide trend, signifies a shift in political alliances. He united otherwise disparate groups—the working, middle, and upper-middle classes—against a backdrop of increasing economic inequality and political disillusionment. This emergent coalition reflects a growing demand for accountability from those in power.

“This city is your city, and this democracy is yours, too,” Mamdani declared on election night, signifying a newfound ownership of civic engagement among New Yorkers. Despite his victory, skepticism looms over Mamdani's progressive agenda. Critics have framed his proposals as dangerously radical, despite many being adaptations of prior initiatives from former mayors. Notably, his plans to reform the education system and address rent stabilization show a blend of progressive values tempered with pragmatic governance. New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates during an election night event at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York on November 4, 2025. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Senior Columnist Rob Eshman November 5, 2025 Among pollsters familiar with the American Jewish vote, the events of Nov. 4, 2025, in New York City will go down as Opposite Day. A CNN exit poll showed that Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor-elect, received just about 30% of the Jewish vote, while his opponents, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, together received a total of 70%. Those numbers are effectively the inverse of the Jewish vote in decades of national elections, which have usually seen the Democratic candidate getting between 70% and 80% of the Jewish vote.

Now, that stark divide is one that Jews, and Mamdani, will have to learn to live with.

People Also Search

Zohran Mamdani’s Victory In The New York City Mayoral Race

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race is more than an improbable municipal election win; it is a template for Democratic revival, one that can marry socioeconomic policies and message discipline... I first interviewed Mamdani shortly after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris left the Democratic Party in tatters. Already a declared candidate, the unabashed democratic soci...

The Significance Of Mamdani’s Triumph, And The Lessons It Underscores,

The significance of Mamdani’s triumph, and the lessons it underscores, cannot be fully appreciated without understanding the political context in which it happened. His campaign was fought under the shadow of organized disinformation and overt bigotry. His campaign was fought under the shadow of organized disinformation and overt bigotry. Democrat Zohran Mamdani's historic NYC mayoral victory mark...

The Democratic Candidate, Running Explicitly As A Democratic Socialist And

The Democratic candidate, running explicitly as a democratic socialist and Muslim candidate, toppled the Cuomo political dynasty and defeated the conventional wisdom that working-class voters would reject his unapologetic platform. “Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands, my friends. We have toppled a political dynasty,” Mamdani declared to a roaring crowd of sup...

Mamdani’s Campaign Succeeded Against Opponents With Vastly Greater Financial Resources

Mamdani’s campaign succeeded against opponents with vastly greater financial resources by maintaining unwavering message discipline. His victory speech crystallized a single, repeated promise: making New York “a city we can afford.” I have been reflecting on the New York City mayoral race during and since Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. I watched his campaign very closely. As someone who is inte...

Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Offers Several Such Takeaways. Here Are Some

Zohran Mamdani’s campaign offers several such takeaways. Here are some key leadership lessons from his race, and how they apply to any team or organization. Mamdani built momentum by doing more than speaking at communities. He went to them and not the other way around. He listened to New Yorkers who felt ignored and bridged divides by acknowledging lived struggles rather than distancing himself. O...