The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are expressing concerns about the commitment of New York City's Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, to their cause, despite their significant role in his election victory.
This comes after Mamdani's decisions since his November win have raised eyebrows among DSA officials and chapters, who have taken to social media to voice their disapproval.
Mamdani's actions, such as retaining New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, endorsing non-DSA candidate Brad Lander for a House seat, and attending a cordial meeting with President Donald Trump, have been met with criticism from his socialist base. According to the Daily Caller, this signals a growing divide among socialists on how to actualize their radical objectives as Mamdani prepares to assume office on January 1.
Stu Smith, an analyst at City Journal who closely follows DSA politics, commented on the situation. "He isn't even sworn in yet, and parts of his own base are already seething, from the Trump meeting to keeping Tisch," Smith said. He further noted a rising faction of disgruntled activists on the far left who view politicians like Mamdani, who alarm conservatives, as insufficiently radical due to their participation in electoral politics.
Despite the criticism, Mamdani has not responded to requests for comment.
The DSA, which counts Mamdani as a member, played a significant role in his mayoral victory, deploying over 99,000 personnel for door-knocking, phone banking, and other voter outreach operations. The group, known for its radical stance on issues such as police abolition and arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on U.S. soil, has seen Mamdani shift his position on some of these issues. Despite his earlier support for dismantling the NYPD and strong criticism of Israel, Mamdani has recently stated that he will "work with" police officers and pledged to fight antisemitism as mayor.
Despite these shifts, Mamdani maintains ties with the DSA. His transition team, which includes hundreds of individuals, has hired at least 26 members of the DSAs New York City chapter for various roles. However, this relationship is not without tension, as illustrated by the appointment of a police abolitionist as a public safety adviser, who had previously discouraged Mamdani from retaining Commissioner Tisch.
The pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime criticized Mamdani's decision to retain Tisch, stating that it represents a political alignment with the NYPD's legacy of racialized policing and a retreat from the values of justice and liberation that Mamdani's campaign claimed to champion. This statement was co-signed by several DSA chapters and factions.
Smith further commented on the situation, stating, Despite Mamdanis charisma, the fractures in his coalition are already obvious. He speculated that Mamdani might end up in a situation similar to that of Chicago's leftist mayor, Brandon Johnson, who is kept afloat by a band of loyal supporters despite his unpopularity. Smith also noted that regardless of Mamdani's personal fate, his playbook is likely to be adopted by other cities electing DSA candidates.
In the weeks leading up to Mamdani's victory, leading figures in DSAs Liberation Caucus expressed a range of doubts and complaints about Mamdani on issues such as Zionism and criminal justice. Despite these concerns, the caucus released a video after the election declaring support for his incoming government, albeit with conditions.
A DSA International Committee member known as BlackRedGuard said in the video, There will also undoubtedly be mistakes and errors made by the Mamdani administration itself. Such is the nature of governing under capitalism. We must stand ready to criticize and push for rectification. We cannot blindly lie to the masses. He emphasized the need to create better, accountable candidates and to build towards the party.
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