Conservative commentator Meghan McCain issued a strong warning to fellow Republicans on Monday in response to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent criticism of the right, praising the progressive leader for striking a “brilliant” tone.

Referring to Mamdani’s interview with The New York Times last week, McCain, the daughter of the late GOP Sen. John McCain, called the mayor “brilliant in his attacks against the right” in post on X on Monday.

“The tone of what he is saying is brilliant. It is part folksy everyman, republicans have abandoned the working class and are a bunch of elites without being harsh or conspiratorial,” she wrote. “He has gotten very strong, very fast and is evolving in his national messaging to the rest of the country.”

McCain warned that “if democrats are smart they will nominate someone with his tenor and tone on economics and national policy.”

Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has made the working class and the cost-of-living crisis the center of his politics. Some Republicans have employed that tactic on the campaign trail, including President Donald Trump, who, in a December speech in Pennsylvania, promised “lower prices, bigger paychecks.” Still, his massive tariffs and the war with Iran have increased inflation and sharply driven up prices for goods and gasoline.

The economy is a top concern for voters, according to a July CNBC survey. Asked what are the most important issues to them right now, a majority of respondents said the cost of food and groceries, followed by protecting democracy, as well as immigration and border security. Housing and healthcare costs followed closely behind.

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Erum Salam

Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.