Can progressive mayors save the Democratic Party?
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.1 • 5.3K Ratings
🗓️ 23 November 2025
⏱️ 18 minutes
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Summary
New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani built a coalition of voters who were engaged by his charisma and his campaign’s focus on key issues such as affordable transportation, housing and childcare. Mamdani has pointed to Boston mayor Michelle Wu, who was just re-elected in a landslide herself, as inspiration and for being “the most effective Democrat in America.” What can be learned from how progressive mayors like Wu and Mamdani are energizing voters?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | When Zeran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race decisively this month, |
| 0:04.3 | the contest was closely scrutinized to understand how a Democratic socialist |
| 0:09.0 | managed to pull off the turnout of such a broad coalition of voters |
| 0:12.7 | and what it might mean for Democrats nationwide. |
| 0:16.2 | Mamdani's rise has been a global phenomenon, too. |
| 0:19.2 | It made the news across Europe. |
| 0:21.6 | It was Zoran Mamdani, democratic. |
| 0:25.6 | That was audio from ARD, R-A-I, and France 24 networks. And in France's left-wing party called France Unbowed, |
| 0:35.1 | progressive politicians like Claire Lejeune saw Mamdani's campaign as an |
| 0:38.9 | inspiration. |
| 0:40.0 | For victory of Zohan Mandani is a beacon of hope. It's a message echoes not only in the U.S., |
| 0:46.9 | but also for us in France. |
| 0:49.5 | And one surprise supporter emerged Friday, President Trump. In an unexpectedly friendly meeting with |
| 0:55.3 | Mamdani in the Oval Office, the president said this to him. Being the mayor of New York, |
| 0:59.8 | and especially now, because I think you're at really a turning point, one way or the other. |
| 1:05.5 | You could go great, or it can go in a different direction. And I think you really have a chance to make it great. |
| 1:11.6 | With Mamdani's rise, there's also been a surge of attention on the mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu. |
| 1:17.6 | Momdani has called her the most effective Democrat in America. |
| 1:21.6 | Wu is Boston's first female and first Asian American mayor, and she was re-elected this month in a landslide. |
| 1:28.2 | Consider this. With so many eyes on these races, many people are asking, can charismatic, |
| 1:33.9 | progressive mayors save the Democratic Party? Looking at Mayor Wu's record in Boston as a case |
| 1:39.1 | study, along with Mamdani's campaign, may offer some insights. We went to Boston to try to understand more about |
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