By Matt Underwood Democratic Leaders Tried to Crush Zohran Mamdani. They Should Have Been Taking Notes. The essence of this whole situation boils down to a simple truth: Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, ran on popular policies and, despite attempts by establishment Democrats and the media to undermine him, he succeeded. This should be a wake-up call, not just for the Democratic Party, but for anyone who believes in progressive change. What made Mamdani successful wasn’t some complex political strategy, but a genuine connection with the voters. He spoke plainly, addressed their concerns, and stood firm on his beliefs. This authenticity, so often missing in today’s political landscape, resonated with people tired of the status quo.
The Democratic establishment, however, seems to have missed the point entirely. While Mamdani was connecting with voters, they were busy trying to undermine him. Their strategy, as evidenced by the near-constant attacks and smears, was to protect their own power and the interests of their donors. They seemed more concerned with maintaining the existing order than with listening to the needs and desires of the electorate. This isn’t a new phenomenon; history is replete with examples of the Democratic Party ignoring, undermining, and actively working against progressive candidates who threatened the established power structure. They’ve consistently favored centrist candidates over those who actually represent the desires of the people, even when those centrists have proven to be unelectable.
Consider the history of the Democratic Party, from the Occupy movement to the Sanders campaigns to the current state of affairs. The Democratic Party has consistently failed to embrace progressive ideas and candidates. They’ve thrown Bernie Sanders under the bus twice, preferring to stick with establishment figures who, in many cases, lost to the opposition. They’ve ignored the pleas of their voters and have instead prioritized the interests of their corporate donors. They seem to have learned nothing from these failures, and continue to push the same tired, ineffective strategies. They actively avoid progressive candidates in favor of centrists. The result is a party that is increasingly out of touch with its base and a country that is sliding further into economic inequality.
The reason they continue to do this is because they’re more interested in maintaining their power than in actually serving the people. They’re controlled opposition, pretending to fight for change while actually enabling the forces that are actively working against it. They have become a center-conservative party, beholden to wealthy interests and unwilling to implement the truly progressive policies that could bring about real change. This is why Mamdani’s success is so important. He showed that it’s possible to win by running on a platform of genuine progressive values. He showed that voters are hungry for authenticity and for candidates who aren’t afraid to speak their minds.
The New York Times, in their opinion piece, may be realizing this now. However, it’s hard to take them seriously given their previous actions. They actively tried to derail Mamdani’s campaign. This isn’t a matter of ignorance; it’s a matter of self-preservation. The establishment doesn’t want to see a shift in power. It doesn’t want to see the rise of a new generation of progressive leaders. It wants to maintain its control, even if it means sacrificing the future of the country. This is why the Democratic establishment should be taking notes. They should be studying Mamdani’s success and learning from his example. They should be embracing progressive policies and working to build a party that truly represents the people. If they fail to do so, they risk losing the support of their base and becoming irrelevant.
The current state of the Democratic Party, and indeed, the broader political landscape, is a testament to the arrogance and short-sightedness of its leadership. They’ve consistently prioritized the interests of their donors and their own power over the needs of the voters. They’ve embraced the same tired strategies that have failed again and again. While the Democratic establishment has been clinging to the status quo, the world has been changing. Voters are hungry for something new, something authentic, something that speaks to their struggles and offers them hope. Zohran Mamdani provided just that, which the established leaders actively tried to shut down. They failed, and now, they must learn from that failure. The rise of a socialist, unafraid to stand by his principles, signals a shift in the political tide, and the Democratic Party must adapt, or risk being swept away by the forces they’ve so diligently tried to suppress.