Bigger than Zohran

In New York’s mayoral election, Zohran Mamdani was a distant favorite. His proclamation to make living in New York more affordable for working-class people and his outspoken opposition to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians earned him a sizable coalition of supporters who mobilized millions to defeat him. Mamma’s rise also exposed deep rifts within the Democratic Party, which had either waited months to decide whether to support him or waited to do so. In the end, his campaign served as a gimmick for the growing disconnect between what elected officials and their supporters are willing to offer.