Moderate Democrats are responding to the Mamdani insurgency in the worst way
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s successful backing of a trio of left-wing candidates in New York’s House primaries — two of whom ousted establishment Democratic incumbents — has triggered backlash from fuming moderate Democrats. But their criticism reveals the exact wrong takeaway from Tuesday’s political earthquake.
New York Attorney General Letitia James told CNN on Wednesday that some of the Mamdani-backed candidates “do not understand the politics of New York City,” despite the fact that they won their races. She also said other political leaders she’s spoken to are “disappointed” in Mamdani, and likened his movement to right-wing extremism: “All of us are a little frustrated with the Democratic Party. But you don’t blow it up. That’s what MAGA has done.”
The Democratic establishment’s overarching narrative: socialists and their allies don’t belong in the Democratic Party.
James was one of many Democrats sounding the alarm about Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America as an existential threat to the party. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., declared, “Many of us believe, as I do, that if you’re a socialist, you’re not a Democrat.” Rep. Greg Meeks, D-N.Y., complained, “Instead of us making sure we put all of our resources to fight Republicans and to fight Donald Trump, we’re using it to fight each other.” Former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison asked for them to cease and desist: “If you hate the Democratic Party, then please don’t run for our nomination,” he pleaded.
When asked by a reporter if Mamdani was “making enemies” on Capitol Hill, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., seemed to imply that Mamdani should consider groveling before members of Congress. “The mayor and I agree to strongly disagree about some of his endorsements,” Jeffries said. “He’s got work to do in terms of the conversations that he’s going to have with members of Congress moving forward.”
The Democratic establishment’s overarching narrative: Socialists and their allies don’t belong in the Democratic Party and ought to buzz off.
Zeeshan Aleem is a writer and editor for MS NOW. He primarily writes about politics and foreign policy.
