Democratic New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, may encounter resistance from black and Latino voters in his pursuit of the New York City mayoral office.
Despite his policies finding favor among the city's affluent white demographic, Mamdani's appeal to the black and Latino communities remains uncertain, as reported by Politico on Tuesday. This revelation comes as Mamdani emerges as a leading contender in the mayoral race, alongside former Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, in a conversation with the Daily Caller News Foundation, noted, The nature of the population [of New York City] is not uniform by any measure. He further explained, In respect to black people, there is competition between ethnic groups and racial groups all the time. Part of that competition and change is what is consistent with New York City politics.
Sheinkopf went on to express skepticism about Mamdani's prospects, saying, So, here comes this newcomer [Mamdani] that nobody knows within those communities that expects to suddenly become the frontrunner because the progressives have decided that all people with any pigment in their skin should be voting for a guy who is in many ways in contradiction with their religious attitudes and other attitudes.
According to a May survey from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, the demographic breakdown of likely voters in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary is projected to be 6% Asian, 24% Hispanic, 31% black, and 35% white.
Basil Smikle Jr., a former leader of the New York State Democratic Party, told Politico, African-American voters have historically been more moderate to conservative than a lot of people really account for. He added, Its a vote tied to more mainstream politics and politicians, and you will see a higher turnout among those voters compared to younger ones.
However, an anonymous Democratic consultant predicted to Politico that white voters would constitute at least 45% of the electorate, with Hispanic voters making up approximately 15%. Smikle Jr. expressed optimism about Mamdani's chances with younger voters, stating, I think Zohran has every opportunity to engage that younger voter because he is one of them, and they are not as tied to the older machines and older institutions as others might be.
In a surprising move, The New York Times editorial board discouraged voters from backing Mamdani in the mayoral race, citing his agenda uniquely unsuited to the citys challenges.
Mamdani's proposed policies include the establishment of a network of city-run grocery stores and a gradual increase in New York City's minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. Despite these controversial proposals, the Democratic socialist has secured endorsements from several prominent left-wing figures, including Democratic New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
J.C. Polanco, an attorney and independent political analyst, voiced concerns about Mamdani's proposals, telling Politico, When you say free buses, free everything, city-run grocery stores, that scares the bejesus out of folks working daily and paying 45 to 50% of their income in taxes, referring to middle-class voters in black and Latino communities.
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