New York shows the Democrats how they can win again

Emmy Ruiz

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A political earthquake shook New York City last week. For some, Zohran Mamdani's win in the Democratic primary for mayor was a shock. For those paying attention, it was a culmination of something that has been building - not a break but an opportunity for change.

In seven months, Mamdani went from relative obscurity to frontrunner, beating the former governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite being outspent by outside groups and without significant name recognition at the outset, he won. A focused campaign centred on a message that resonated with voters: "New York is too expensive. Zohran will lower costs and make life easier." Rent, childcare, travel and groceries. He spoke to and heard the many New Yorkers who feel they're falling behind.

As someone who has been a part of four presidential campaigns and was Joe Biden's White House political director for the past four years, I know it wasn't just what Mamdani said.

It was how he said it, where he said it - and how he campaigned. He walked the13-mile length of Manhattan. He went on podcasts, posted video shorts on YouTube, X and TikTok, participated in TV and radio interviews. He spoke to voters in their languages - not always perfectly, but with effort and humility. He sounded like a neighbour, not a politician. People listened.