There are politicians their opponents fear. And then there are politicians their opponents are quietly hoping keep doing exactly what they are doing, because it is the most useful thing that has happened to them in years. Zohran Mamdani is 34, a democratic socialist, the mayor of New York City, and currently the single most powerful endorser in Democratic primary politics. The Republican Party would like him to know they are rooting for him.
According to Fox News, Mamdani is backing three progressive challengers against Democratic incumbents in today’s New York primaries, including Darializa Avila Chevalier against five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Brad Lander against Rep. Dan Goldman, whose supporters include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mamdani staged a rally with Bernie Sanders last week. The Democratic establishment’s response has been to endorse his opponents and hope for the best, which is the political equivalent of a very confident gesture from a losing position.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, per Fox News, described Mamdani’s brand as “toxic as it comes” and said he is “exactly the kind of bogeyman we can use against Democrats to truly show who is leading their party.” This is not a criticism. It is a revenue strategy.
Trump himself previously called Mamdani “a communist lunatic.” After meeting him at the White House in February, according to Fox News, Trump said Mamdani was “a very rational person” who would do “a really good job.” The communist lunatic became rational the moment Trump needed something from the city of New York. The NRCC is currently describing him as a bogeyman while Trump is on record calling him “very rational,” which means the Republican Party cannot agree with itself on whether to fear him or use him, and has decided to do both simultaneously.
Mamdani won the New York City mayoralty by 30 points. He is six months into his first term. Pelosi’s candidate is on the ballot against his candidate today.
When the most feared figure in Democratic politics is simultaneously your bogeyman and the president’s idea of a rational person, what exactly is the Republican strategy?
Sources
Fox News: A tale of two parties: Trump, Mamdani put political clout on the line as four states hold primaries
Fox News: Primary live results June 23
Fox News video: Progressive candidates push anti-Israel platform in NY primaries
