The list of groups Zohran Mamdani defeated is a long one:

The entire Democratic Party establishment.

Wealthy interests stuck on the Hedonic Treadmill.

Corporate media.

Foreign agents of Israel.

Most importantly, the man who proved the “Me Too” movement was never taken seriously by the Democratic Party, Andrew Cuomo.

Today, Mamdani was officially declared the winner of the New York City mayoral primary by a 56% to 44% margin over Cuomo. That Mamdani still won despite a unified front hellbent on defeating him shows that with the right candidate, the establishment can be defeated.

Michael Bloomberg’s presidential run was the largest example by far, but Mamdani’s victory seemingly proved that money does not matter as much as thought when there is a clear difference in ideology between candidates. Corporate media frequently focuses on fundraising dollars between candidates, implying that those with the most funding are the odds-on favorite to win. Yet despite being overwhelmingly outspent, Mamdani delivered a massive 12 point margin over the uniparty’s preferred candidate. Lack of funding often discourages good candidates from running, but Zohran’s win shows that a likable candidate that brings a fresh ideology and breaks from the tired establishment messaging of fear, uncertainty, and doubt can win big-league elections.

Mamdani stuck to his positions, refused to take the media’s bait, and created a blueprint for victory for progressives nationwide.

Still, leftists are not out of the woods yet. The establishment does not like to take “we don’t want you” for an answer, and has responded by running Cuomo again in the General Election, embracing racism against Muslims, fictionalizing statements Mamdani never made, and offering tens of millions to anyone who believes they can defeat Mamdani. It will be an uphill battle for the right, as conservative candidates more often than not run entirely on a platform of fear, uncertainty, and doubt with little actual “meat” for voters. After experiencing Mamdani’s fresh, upbeat campaign which offered real change and empathy for voters, it may be hard to convince the New York City electorate that an opposing candidate running on a platform of “Mamdani = bad” will improve their lives.

If Mamdani continues his remarkable run and takes the General Election, leftwing voters must still contend with the fact that Zohran is a Democrat, not an independent. Progressives have witnessed few, if any, Democrats with nationwide recognition avoiding assimilation with the establishment. Bernie Sanders, arguably the most recognizable Democrat who ran on a progressive platform has since endorsed Israel’s genocide in Gaza and went so far as to shut down pro-Palestinian activists at his own rallies. Bernie’s 180° turn to the establishment mirrors the younger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has gone from progressive darling and unofficial figurehead of the progressive movement to what many see as a younger version of Nancy Pelosi,. Leftists here in Rhode Island have experienced similar betrayals, with nearly every member of the progressive RI Political Co-Op currently in office tacking rightward after being elected, many going so far as to endorse Joe Biden and later, Kamala Harris for President this past November. Harris was on record as being in full support of the ongoing holocaust in Gaza which has seen hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians murdered with weapons provided by the US and starved to death via a blockade on food entering the country. Harris’s endorsement of one of the worst crimes against humanity in our lifetime and her support for the country at the frontlines of the massacre is considered by most to be the primary reason that millions of left-leaning voters stayed home leading to the election of Donald Trump in 2024.

If Mamdani succeeds in November and continues to carry the progressive torch after taking office, he will almost certainly become the standard bearer for leftists nationwide with hopes he will inspire many others to run.