Zohran Mamdani is Shaking Up the NYC Mayor's Race

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani , 33 , is a 33-year-old socialist.

He is the only candidate to announce that he has hit the cap for public matching funds, raising almost $1.5 million .

The Democratic Socialists of America chapter in New York has added 1,500 members since last October .

Zohran Mamdani's surging popularity seems to be because of—rather than in spite of—factors that would be considered liabilities in the traditional calculus of New York City politics.

He has steadfastly condemned Israel ’s war on Gaza , even as pro-Israel PACs have spent millions to sink progressive candidates nationwide.

A recent poll shows Mamdani 10 points ahead of the next progressive candidate, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander .

He has argued that his economic policies are resonating with outer-borough voters who drifted away from Democrats , some toward Trump .

He is hoping that the straightforward nature of his economic proposals will help him break through.