Mamdani’s Victory Is Less Significant Than You Think

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion

Society & Culture, Ross Douthat, News, New York Times, Journalism

4.2 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Does Zohran Mamdani’s win mean a new dawn for the Democratic Party? Not exactly, Ross Douthat argues. In this mini-episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross explains that the New York mayor’s office has historically been a “springboard to nowhere,” rather than a precursor for national politics.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey listeners, it's Ross.
0:03.5	We'll have a regular episode for you on Thursday.
0:06.6	But before that, I just wanted to weigh in quickly with a few thoughts on the significance of Zoran Mamdani's win.
0:27.6	My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.
0:36.4	It's official.
0:43.5	Zoran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, raising the flag of the far left over Gotham.
0:55.4	And if you believe the hype or the fears of his critics, then the 34-year-old Ugandan-born Muslim Democratic Socialist is poised to remake the Democratic Party.
0:59.3	Thrilling young voters, mainstreaming socialism.
1:02.9	There has to be a better distribution of wealth for all of God's children in this country.
1:04.3	An anti-Zionism.
1:06.0	What's happening in Gaza as a genocide. And offering himself as the starkest possible contrast to that other New Yorker in the White House.
1:13.2	But I'm skeptical. The odds are that Mamdani's victory is actually less significant than you think.
1:25.9	In part, that's because the media still New York-centric, even in this supposedly
1:31.7	decentralized age, tends to hype New York mayoral politics beyond its real significance.
1:38.2	Do you see Mamdani is the future of the Democratic Party?
1:41.1	What they've just seen here is a potential roadmap to success in New York.
1:46.5	Everyone's now treating New York's mayoral race as if it were a presidential one.
1:50.9	And it's also because the office of mayor of New York City has tended to be a political
1:55.6	springboard to nowhere. Time and again, we've seen famous New York City mayors from John Lindsay.
2:03.1	John Lindsay wants a well-defended, secure America.
2:06.5	To Rudy Giuliani.
2:07.5	So I believe I've been tested in a way in which the American people can look to me.
	...

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