Mamdani Win Stirs A Lot Of Anxiety For Democrats About Their Primaries

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 18, 2025, 4:14 AM

mamdani win stirs a lot of anxiety for democrats about their primaries

The 33-year-old's success prompted varied reactions in the city. Just hours after Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani declared victory in New York's mayoral primary on Wednesday, a small group of business leaders convened with Mayor Eric Adams, who bypassed the Democratic primary and is... Attendees were focused on strategizing how to prevent Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member, from winning the mayoralty -- and assessing whether Adams was the strongest contender to oppose him in November. Among those present was former NYC mayoral candidate and former hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson, who recently shared a debate stage with Mamdani. Tilson described Mamdani as "very charming and charismatic," but added he sharply disagrees with Mamdani's policies and that "[a small fraction] of New York City voters picked him… It's a totally rigged closed primary." Tilson told ABC News when it became clear the race was between two people, he had hoped former New York Gov.

Andrew Cuomo would win. He said he would "...continue for the next 130 days what I began in earnest 45 days ago -- to make sure Zohran Mamdani, an unqualified radical socialist, does not become mayor of our... 'Selling the City' star and real estate broker Taylor Middleton tells 'Fox & Friends' New York City clients are feeling uncertainty and anxiety after far-left candidate Zohran Mamdani's mayoral primary win. For Republicans, the reaction to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's stunning victory this week in New York City's Democratic Party primary for mayor was simple. They attacked the Ugandan-born 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens, who took a major step toward becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation's most populous city, as an extremist and anchored him to Democrats... The attacks stretched from down ballot on the campaign trail all the way up to the White House, with President Donald Trump claiming that Mamdani was "a 100% Communist Lunatic."

REPUBLICANS USE MAMDANI BOMBSHELL VICTORY OVER CUOMO AS AMMUNITION TO BLAST DEMOCRATS AS EXTREMISTS In a stunning upset, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Final results won't be official for several days, but his win has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. To discuss Mamdani's win and what comes next, Amna Nawaz spoke with Errol Lewis, political anchor for Spectrum News NY1 and host of the Inside City Hall program. Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

In a stunning upset, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani won last night's Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Final results won't be official for several days, but his win has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. Mamdani spoke to supporters late last night. Zohran Mamdani (D), New York City Mayoral Candidate: If this campaign has demonstrated anything to the world,it is that our dreams can become reality. To primary or not to primary? That is the question.

Comptroller Brad Lander is considering a House run. Heather Khalifa/AP Progressives were eager to primary sitting Democrats — until they weren’t. Some left-wing Democrats are questioning how to balance electoral ambitions with policy aspirations in light of democratic socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City. Mamdani reportedly tried to dissuade a city council member and close ally, Chi Ossé, from primarying House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in 2026. The Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter voted over the weekend against endorsing Ossé, and the council member is reportedly considering forgoing a primary challenge.

This column was updated to add new information. It was a sweltering Tuesday on June 24 in New York City, when the Democratic primary election for mayor was coming to a boil and Democratic leadership seemed very concerned about one particular campaign. Disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislator Zohran Mamdani were polling closer than ever earlier in the day. But results came in, and they came in more decisively than anyone expected Tuesday night. Cuomo conceded the mayoral race less than 90 minutes after polls closed at 9 p.m.

Predictions had been that we'd be lucky to get results by July 1. On my Instagram, everyone was talking about Mamdani – friends, enemies, politicians and celebrities are coming out of the woodwork to voice their support for the democratic socialist. People in my circle are excited about the prospect of a true progressive running New York City – and it seems there’s a lot the Democratic Party could learn from that. The “Mamdani Effect” is reportedly already being felt in some corners of Washington, D.C. Axios reports that some Democratic House members already fear primary challenges from the left after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani shockingly came out on top in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. “I think you’ll see about 30% of members face primary challenges,” a senior House progressive said.

“People have anxiety, rightfully so. Their hair is on fire.” Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told the outlet that Mamdani’s stunning win “was a wake-up-call and a shot across the bow to the establishment and the old guard.” A senior House Democrat said: “There’s a lot of anxiety.”

Mamdani Win Stirs A Lot Of Anxiety For Democrats About Their Primaries

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