Zohran Mamdani Elected as New York City's First Socialist Mayor Amid Controversy
Zohran Mamdani has been elected as New York City's first socialist mayor. His election has drawn accusations of antisemitism from some Zionist and elite institutions. However, a Zenith poll found that two-thirds of Jewish voters under the age of 40 supported Mamdani.
Mamdani is linked to a Jewish socialist tradition. Notably, Bruce Vladeck, who is on Mamdani's transition team, is the grandson of Baruch Charney Vladeck, a prominent Marxist Bund figure. This connection places Mamdani within the historical context of New York's Jewish left, which once included about 600,000 Jews around 1900 and was symbolized by landmarks such as The Forward Building.
In 2021, Mamdani demonstrated his commitment to grassroots activism by joining taxi drivers' protests over medallion debt. He staged a 14-day hunger strike, which contributed to winning debt relief for the drivers. His campaign emphasized class-first politics and employed multilingual outreach, including advertisements in Spanish, Bangla, Hindi, and Arabic. The campaign slogan was "roti and roses," symbolizing a focus on both workers' needs and dignity.
The article argues that Mamdani reflects an older Jewish left tradition rather than the cosmopolitan elite Jewish world often perceived today. Despite his support among many young Jewish voters, some Jewish institutions pushed back against his election in 2025. A correction in the reporting clarified that Bruce Vladeck is the grandson, not the great-grandson, of Baruch Charney Vladeck.
