Five Thoughts on Zohran Mamdani’s Victory

A comeback no one wanted, a party too afraid to lead, and institutions that failed when it mattered most.

Zohran Mamdani’s win last night wasn’t just another New York election; it showed how far the city’s politics have drifted and how few people in power actually see it. Here are a few thoughts:

1. It’s still hard to figure out why anyone besides Andrew Cuomo thought running again made sense. He resigned in disgrace, left a mess behind, and somehow convinced himself the city was ready for a comeback tour. It wasn’t. His nursing-home record during the pandemic is still burned into people’s minds. Jumping back into politics this fast wasn’t bold, it was delusional. New Yorkers were done with him, even if he couldn’t see it.