Mamdani presents himself as a man of the people and an organiser.
“As life took its inevitable turns, with detours in film, rap, and writing,” reads his state assembly profile, “it was always organising that ensured that the events of our world would not lead him to despair, but to action.”
Part of what made Mamdani so successful was that younger voters saw how authentic he was on social media, says Jane Hall, communications professor at American University.
“You don’t have to be young to be able to do it, but I think you have to be seen as being authentic and speaking to what people care about in a way that is hip and makes people want to be on the bandwagon,” Hall said.
His critics have argued that Mamdani does not have enough experience to effectively lead the largest US city.
President Donald Trump has tried to paint him as radical, repeatedly calling him a communist, though Mamdani has frequently denied this. The president also has threatened to withhold federal funds from a Mamdani administration.
On Tuesday night, as he declared victory, Mamdani addressed the president directly:
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up. To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us”.
Trump promptly posted on social media: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”
Andres Bernal, former policy advisor to New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, says Democrats can learn from Mamdani’s ability to connect with people and his authenticity.
“Today’s Republicans shape public discourse and they try to shape political consciousness in this country,” Bernal argued. “While Democrats kind of just assume that people have fixed beliefs and they look at polls and say, okay, how do we match what we say to what we think people believe?”