What to think of Zohran Mamdani (socialist NYC mayoral candidate)

In a recent New York City primary election self-identified socialist candidate Zohran Mamdami won and appears to have the inside track at becoming New York City’s next Mayor. Mamdami believes in things like city owned and operated grocery stores, rent control, steep new taxes, and “free” public transportation. While NYC is definitely a bastion of left-leaning politics, Mamdami appears to be a political outlier in the Big Apple.

But the real issue is the continued shift leftward by Democrats across the United State. In New Mexico we went from tax-cutting, pro-gun, pro-market Democrat Bill Richardson to “progressive” Michelle Lujan Grisham and now Deb Haaland is looking to take the Democrats even further left (by opposing outright oil and gas development as she did as Secretary of Interior). Democrats in the New Mexico Legislature which voted to adopt Richardson’s tax cuts back in 2003 have moved further left over this time frame as have Democrats up and down the line. Even as recently as 2024 so-called “progressives” captured several legislative seats previously held by moderates.

Will Democrats nationwide or in New Mexico move back to the center? They show no signs of doing so. Deb Haaland is the fundraising champion in the early primary for Gov. (over her moderate challengers). It is up to Democratic (and now those who register as DTS under New Mexico’s new “open primaries” law) to move the party back towards the center. The new law could help by adding new, moderate voters to the mix in primaries, but candidates will need to make a concerted effort to reach out to these voters and get them engaged in primary elections.

Considering how long and thoroughly Democrats have maintained control over New Mexico’s politics it is a question that will have real implications in the Land of Enchantment.