House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) caused a stir just before this past month’s elections by stating Zohran Mamdani has become the face of the Democrats. Mamdani is the left-wing state assemblyman who has been elected mayor of New York City. His agenda includes a number of proposals, including free public transportation, for which he has no plan to finance. Mamdani is also on record for refusing to denounce calls for global intifada.
Far be it from me to side with Speaker Johnson on any issue. But his assertion raises a valid question: Is Mamdani the face of the Democrats? He was endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY). Mamdani was also endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) who is, by the way, being challenged by far left New York City council member Chi Osse (a staunch Mamdami supporter). Both Schumer and Hochul are considered liberal leaning moderates who nonetheless found themselves compelled to support Mamdani, very much a left of left political force.
Democrats are in a victory mode after having won three gubernatorial elections this past month, along with a number of in-state votes across the country. No doubt, the Democrats’ victories were a referendum of sorts on President Donald Trump. But Democrats remain the minority in both the Houses of Congress and have a lot of work to do if they are to make gains next year on Capitol Hill.
You can bet the Republicans will make the most of Mamdani. With an out of control radical mayor of New York who identifies himself as a Democrat, many voters will take pause before handing the House and Senate back to the Democrats. Also in play will be Mandami’s undeniable hostility toward Israel, thereby alienating the Jewish vote crucial to the prospects of Democrats.
Lee Atwater, the late political operative for President George H. W. Bush, played the race card in 1988 by issuing a leaflet with a picture of Willie Horton, an African American and assaultive felon released on parole under the watch of Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis, the Democrats’ presidential nominee. Mamdani will make a similar and useful symbol for the Republicans in 2026. The difference is that whereas the Willie Horton incident was thinly veiled racism, Mamdani is a legitimate object of concern to voters.
Mamdani’s agenda reminds me of The Simpsons episode in which Homer makes “crazy promises” during his campaign for sanitation supervisor of Springfield. Homer won and it spelled disaster. But Mamdani, albeit outrageous, isn’t a cartoon. He’s a very real specter.
And like it or not, he’s a Democrat who was able to garner the support of the party establishment.
New York is the nation’s largest city and the financial capital of the world. Soon we will see what effect a city-wide through the roof minimum wage hike will have on both New York and the rest of the country. Will it be one of those Homer Simpson-like “crazy promises” or will Mamdani become more realistic when he assumes the role of mayor?
The situation has precedent in New York City. In 1965, far left Republican candidate John Lindsay, a New York congressman, was challenged for mayor by the independent candidacy of conservative pundit William F. Buckley. When asked what would be the first thing he would do if elected mayor, Buckley quipped “Demand a recount.” When asked why he referred to Lindsay as a liberal, Buckley responded “Were he any more liberal, he would be in a zoo.” Buckley’s comments got laughs. But Lindsay got votes and he was, indeed, a disaster for New York. (Lindsay also ran an unsuccessful campaign for president as a Democrat in 1972.)
Back to Mamdani, in a word he is lethal. His refusal to denounce calls for a global intifada, a term in reference to efforts to attack Jews world-wide, should be of concern to everyone, including Democrats. Mamdani insists his refusal is based on support for free speech. He can’t even articulate opposition to a global intifada coupled with a defense of free speech. Does Mamdani support global intifada? It’s a fair question.
How Democrats in New York managed to be shackled with Mamdani is complicated. That former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran in the Democrats’ primary and then as an independent, was the alternative is worse than inadequate. (Cuomo himself had to step down as governor of New York under a political cloud.) Time will tell if Mamdami will be regarded on a national basis as the face of the Democrats. But there is no doubt Zohran Mamdani will be the focus of Republican campaigns in 2026.
John O’Neill is an Allen Park freelance writer and a graduate of Wayne State University.
