Zohran Mamdani just made history by winning the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. That alone is no small feat. He beat out a titan of old-guard politics — Andrew Cuomo — with a grassroots, tenant-focused, anti-Zionist campaign in a major American city.
But let me be clear: I do not think Mamdani will coast to a general election win. In fact, I’m not confident he’ll win it at all.
And the reasons are familiar — painfully familiar — for anyone who’s paid attention to how progressives get treated inside the Democratic Party.
First, let’s talk sabotage. The Democratic establishment has a long track record of undermining its own when they step even a toe out of line. Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020 is the most glaring example: they rigged the rules, they rallied media narratives against him, and they consolidated around moderate candidates to shut him down. And it worked — twice.
Then in 2024, the party initially backed Biden again — despite widespread public concern about his age and unpopularity. But as pressure mounted, Biden dropped out late in the game. And in a truly undemocratic move, there was no open contest. No primary. No delegate battle. Just a last-minute coronation of Kamala Harris as the nominee. The party shut the door on any progressive alternative, once again showing that it would rather handpick a safe successor than let the people decide.
Now bring that dysfunction into the NYC 2025 mayoral race. Mamdani isn’t a moderate. He’s not establishment-friendly. He supports tenants over landlords, Palestinians over the IDF, and public housing over real estate greed. He’s exactly the kind of candidate the donor class — and the institutional Democrats — loathe.
So what happens now?
Here’s what I’m worried about:
- Cuomo goes rogue. There’s already buzz that Andrew Cuomo might launch an independent run out of spite. If he does, he could attract votes from disillusioned Democrats and Republicans who find Mamdani too “radical.” He’ll be flush with cash from every anti-Mamdani interest group in the city.
- Democrats jump ship. Don’t be surprised if big-name Dems distance themselves from Mamdani — or outright back his opponent. We’ve seen it before. Establishment Dems in red and blue states have actively endorsed Republicans over progressives in local and state elections.
- Dark money interference. Opposing Democrats may fund Republican or independent campaigns indirectly. You’ll see slick attack ads against Mamdani, not always from the right — but from “concerned Democrats” and “bipartisan coalitions” trying to “save NYC.”
- Media pivot. Expect mainstream media to turn. Mamdani will go from “underdog upstart” to “radical liability” overnight. They’ll paint him as naive, dangerous, or unqualified — just as they did with other insurgents.
The truth is: progressives don’t just have to beat Republicans. They have to beat Democrats twice — once in the primary, and again in the general, where the knives come out behind the scenes.
Even if Mamdani ran a flawless campaign from now to November, it wouldn’t matter unless he can withstand a united front of opposition from GOP donors, angry landlords, NYPD unions, billionaires, centrist PACs, and yes — Democrats who would rather lose to a Republican than let the left gain ground.
We’ve seen this before. Bernie was blocked. Nina Turner was kneecapped. India Walton won her primary — and was stabbed in the back by her own party before losing to a write-in campaign funded by real estate and police.
This isn’t conspiracy. It’s precedent.
So let’s not be naive. The Democratic primary may be over — but the real fight is just beginning. And it won’t just be against the right. It’ll be against Mamdani’s own party.