Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City in 2025. He is a democratic socialist focusing on making the city more affordable. He had previously served as a New York State Assembly member representing Queens.
In June 2026, less than a year into his first term in office, Mamdani endorsed and campaigned for three progressive candidates, including two democratic socialists, over incumbent Democrats in primary races for the House of Representatives. The move was seen as highly unusual for a mayor and a potential risk to his political capital and popularity in the city. All three won, leading The New York Times to dub Mamdani a “kingmaker.”