By Ireland Owens
Democratic New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, an avowed socialist, could face obstacles winning over black and Latino voters in his bid for New York City mayor.
While Mamdani’s policies have been well-received by affluent, left-wing white voters, he could have difficulty winning over black and Latino communities in New York, Politico reported on Tuesday. The report comes amid Mamdani emerging as one of the frontrunners in the New York City mayoral race along with former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“The nature of the population [of New York City] … is not uniform by any measure,” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “In respect to black people, there is competition between ethnic groups and racial groups all the time. Part of that competition and change is what is consistent with New York City politics.”
“So, here comes this newcomer [Mamdani] that nobody knows within those communities that expects to suddenly become the frontrunner because the progressives have decided that all people with any pigment in their skin should be voting for a guy who is — in many ways — in contradiction with their religious attitudes and other attitudes,” Sheinkopf added.
Of likely voters in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, it is projected that 6% will be Asian voters, 24% Hispanic voters, 31% black voters and 35% white voters, according to a May survey from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.
“African-American voters have historically been more moderate to conservative than a lot of people really account for,” Basil Smikle Jr., who once led the New York State Democratic Party, told Politico. “It’s a vote tied to more mainstream politics and politicians, and you will see a higher turnout among those voters compared to younger ones.”
Though, one anonymous Democratic consultant told Politico that based on an analysis of voting history, they predict that white voters would comprise at least 45% of the electorate while Hispanic voters would be roughly 15%.
“I think Zohran has every opportunity to engage that younger voter because he is one of them, and they are not as tied to the older machines and older institutions as others might be,” Smikle Jr. told Politico.
On Monday, The New York Times editorial board discouraged voters from supporting Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, stating that he is “running on an agenda uniquely unsuited” to the city’s “challenges.”
Additionally, Mamdani has promoted policies such as creating a network of city-run grocery stores and raising the minimum wage in New York City to $30 an hour by 2030 if he is elected mayor. The Democratic socialist has notched endorsements from several well-known left-wing figures, including Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“When you say free buses, free everything, city-run grocery stores, that scares the bejesus out of folks working daily and paying 45 to 50% of their income in taxes,” J.C. Polanco, an attorney and independent political analyst, told Politico in reference to middle-class voters in black and Latino communities.
Mamdani’s campaign did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
