Many Democratic leaders and donors are panicking about Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist who won the party's nomination to be the next mayor of New York City.
Why it matters: Establishment Democrats looking to recover from 2024's losses fear Mamdani could hurt the party's brand nationally — while young progressives believe his formula could spread beyond New York.
Democratic leaders largely rallied behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York's mayoral primary, and Mamdani's shocking victory Tuesday was the latest example of the party's establishment being disconnected from many of its own voters.
The top two Democratic leaders in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, both New Yorkers, declined to endorse Mamdani even as they applauded his victory.
New York Rep. Laura Gillen, from Nassau County, called Mamdani the "absolute wrong choice for New York."
Rep. Tom Suozzi, also from Nassau County, said he had "serious concerns."
Reps. Pat Ryan, Josh Riley and Ritchie Torres — who went so far as to say he wouldn't run for governor if Mamdani won — all dodged reporters.
Major Democratic donors — who poured tens of millions into a Super PAC for Cuomo — were having private discussions Wednesday about whether to back an independent run by Cuomo in November's general election, or rally behind unpopular incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who's also running as an independent
The democrats would rather lose to Republicans than let a 
social democrat win
Yes - the Democrats would rather lose than risk an actual leftist winning.
And it's really very, very simple - they're corrupt shitweasels who are wholly owned by wealthy donors, and they'll do anything to keep that money flowing into their greedy little fists.
Which is exactly why I think that every leftist in the country has to do whatever they can to make sure that Mamdani wins. Granted that it's not a national race, I still think this is the time for leftists nationwide to take a stand. Now, before it's too late.
The campaign is no longer accepting contributions. What else can we non-New Yorkers do rn?
There is an “independent” PAC supporting Mamdani, New Yorkers for Lower Costs.
I have no idea.
I just....
i think the only vague hope we have of stopping America's slide into plutocratic tyranny is a leftist groundswell, and that the single most dangerous and determined enemy of leftism in America today is the Democratic party.
If they can, as they painfully obviously intend, sabotage Mamdani, I don't think there will be any stopping them.
Buy guns
You can probably volunteer to phone bank or something.