Emma Llamas | Writer
November 18, 2025
Zohran Mamdani was first elected for the New York State Assembly in 2020 as the Democratic primary. This marked the beginning of his involvement in politics, which was continued by his reelections in 2022 and 2024. This makes him relatively new to the political sphere. Despite his minimal time in New York politics, his campaign has been strongly focused around attempted to create a future that prioritizes the betterment of New York and increasing the New York people’s quality of life.
Mamdani has always been involved in humanitarian causes. Before his political involvement, he was a housing counselor helping low-income New Yorkers fight eviction. His advocacy in this is similar to that of his recent campaign. In his campaign for NYC mayor, he championed justice, equity, and stability for working New Yorkers, hoping to achieve that by freezing the rent prices, making buses free to ride, and raising taxes for the rich, among other things.
This campaign was recognized not just locally, or even nationally, but globally, for generating
excitement for new and old voters alike. His campaign has sparked hope for the general public and has reached a variety of audiences. Through appearances on social media, and even being mentioned in an SNL skit, he has shown himself to be for the people, a politician that understands what people not only need, but want.
This single election has stirred anticipation for the democratic party to reenter the influential sphere within politics after an era of the political unalignment with the right’s influence.
Roonie Ferree, a senior here at SCHS, said that Mamdani’s mayoral victory, “marks a win for the left” and even added thoughtfully that “in the past the Democratic party has made a lot of compromises. Zohran doesn’t do that.”
Which is true. Mamdani continues to advocate for tax reform, workers rights and has even been outspoken about supporting Palestine. In response to this, and the rest of Mamdani’s politics, president Trump has threatened to withhold funding Mamdani’s administration and has labeled him as a radical and communist, despite Mamdani’s repeated rejection of the characterization.
This characterization is far from true. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist, which is a group that prioritizes extending power from politics into the economy, as well as including many progressive ideas such as universal access to healthcare, education, and housing.
It will be interesting to see what avenues New York goes down in the time of his term. Mrs. Shick, AP American Government teacher here at San Clemente, offered the thought that it might be “too early to tell” where this will lead, and that it will be “interesting to see what happens to healthcare and gas prices” once Mamdani’s policies are implemented.
As of right now, considering the humanitarian good that Mamdani has displayed in the past and still stands for, many New Yorkers are enthusiastic about the future of Mamdani’s time as mayor. During this Veterans Day, he was seen at a soup kitchen, today he was reportedly at a day care. Both were with the objective of getting to connect with the people of New York. He thanked the veterans and served their bowls, he spoke with childcare providers of an education and childcare based organization, “Friends of Crown Heights,” to better understand what they need, as well as what challenges they’re facing.
His ideas have been exactly what many Americans have been wishing for. Especially after the hardships many have had to faced lately with the government shut down stopping SNAP benefits, Trump cutting funds to FAFSA, healthcare, social services, and even in ensuring the safety and justice of the general public, Mamdani’s victory feels like a light at the end of a tunnel. There is a lot of hope and excitement that Mamdani being the Mayor-elect will lead to a continuation of progress. Not limited to New York, but a progress that branches out to the rest of us. This is a victory that belongs to everyone.
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