Zohran Mamdani sharply criticizes Democratic Party as he rallies with progressive challengers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a strong critique of the Democratic Party on Thursday, urging a fundamental change in its approach. Speaking at a rally in Brooklyn alongside progressive congressional candidates, Mamdani declared, "For far too long, our party has seen its job as managing decline instead of delivering material change for working people." He argued that the party's current strategy of explaining "why we cannot" instead of "how we can" will lead to electoral defeat.

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For far too long, our party has seen its job as managing decline instead of delivering material change for working people. It has seen its job as explaining why we cannot instead of showing how we can, and that old way of thinking will lose on Tuesday. And frankly, it will lose in South Carolina and New Hampshire. It will fall short of 270 electoral votes, because the party of the past will not be what leads us into the future.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, framed the upcoming Tuesday primaries as the starting point for the 2028 presidential race. He asserted that the "party of the past" cannot lead the future and that the current iteration of the Democratic Party is incapable of winning a presidential election. "People often ask me what I think of the state of the Democratic Party. This slate here today is our answer," Mamdani stated at the rally held at Kings Theatre.

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When does the race for 2028 begin? It starts now. It starts on Tuesday.

Six months into his term, Mamdani is actively using his political influence to support his chosen candidates. He has endorsed Assemblymember Claire Valdez, former city comptroller Brad Lander, and educator and immigrant rights' activist Darializa Avila Chevalier. Valdez is running for retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez's seat, while Lander is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman and Chevalier is targeting Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Mamdani's endorsements place him in direct opposition to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who supports Goldman and Espaillat.

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People often ask me what I think of the state of the Democratic Party. This slate here today is our answer.

Mamdani also condemned what he termed "monsters," including those who fund negative advertising campaigns against his endorsed candidates. He specifically criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for its spending on pro-Israel candidates, often through ads that reference domestic issues rather than foreign policy.

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The mayor and I have agreed to strongly disagree as it relates to this particular race.