SAN JUAN — A New Political Era for New York’s Leadership
Zohran Mamdani is eager to carve out a fresh path as New York’s mayor-elect. Yet, just two days into his new role, he indulged in a time-honored political ritual: a celebratory jaunt to Puerto Rico.
Every November, New York’s Democratic elite — state lawmakers, City Hall aides, and influential union leaders — flock to San Juan for a weekend filled with panels, receptions, and a little bit of backroom deal-making. The Somos conference serves as an unofficial family reunion for the state’s political class, and this year, the newest and most surprising family member was the star attraction.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist, whose remarkable triumph overturned the political dynamics that many of these insiders had perpetuated, arrived at the Caribe Hilton hotel on Thursday evening. There, he faced a buzzing crowd of hundreds eager to hear from him.
While the audience differed from the grassroots supporters he encountered during his campaign — now comprised mostly of seasoned Democratic insiders — his message resonated with consistent clarity.
“It is time for working people to be able to afford to live in the city that they call home,” Mamdani proclaimed. “When I look at these leaders, I see partners ready to tackle two pressing issues: combating an authoritarian regime while addressing the affordability crisis. We can no longer afford to tackle just one — we must confront both challenges simultaneously.”
Among the many receptions at Somos, Mamdani made a notable choice by attending an outdoor gathering co-hosted by District Council 37, the city’s public employees union that backed him over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, alongside state Attorney General Letitia James, who also supported his candidacy.
“Courage, my friends, is contagious,” James declared on stage. “And with Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City, we have a leader with a bold vision who will unite us all. We must recognize, support, and protect him every day.”
For Mamdani, this trip was not merely a victory celebration; it was his introduction to the establishment he once challenged. The Somos conference is where New York’s Democratic leadership gathers annually to exchange gossip, negotiate deals, and gauge the political climate. Suddenly, the mayor-elect found himself at the heart of it all.
His presence sparked a question on both sides: Would Mamdani seek to bridge the gap with the Democratic old guard, or would he maintain a critical distance from the very establishment he has long scrutinized? And would the party’s power brokers, intrigued yet cautious, welcome a mayor who advocates for wealth redistribution and quotes labor leader Eugene Debs?
Currently, Mamdani seems to advocate for coexistence rather than confrontation. He has private meetings scheduled throughout the weekend but is intentionally avoiding the bar scene that characterizes much of Somos’ nightlife — a careful approach for someone still deliberating how closely to engage with the city’s entrenched power dynamics.
Nevertheless, Mamdani has been the focal point of the conference since it began on Wednesday, and anticipation for his arrival was palpable. “When’s my boyfriend getting in?” joked Rep. Nydia Velázquez in the hotel lobby on Thursday morning.
Last year, when Mamdani first attended the Somos conference, he was just a little-known mayoral candidate with negligible polling numbers. Fast forward a year, and he was the center of attention, having to sneak in through a side entrance to avoid the throngs of admirers eager for a selfie after his speech.
Velázquez and James were among those who briefly joined him for a press availability before he made his way to the reception.
Mamdani mentioned he was “looking forward to having a conversation with President Trump” after the president suggested it would be more fitting for the mayor-elect to reach out rather than the reverse. While no specific meeting time was set, Mamdani indicated that their discussion would focus on serving New Yorkers across all five boroughs, particularly those being pushed out of the city’s soaring housing market.
Trump has previously threatened to withdraw federal support from the city and deploy troops if Mamdani were to win.
Mamdani also addressed House Speaker Mike Johnson’s labeling of him as a “Marxist.” He quipped, “If I were Speaker Johnson, I would also avoid acknowledging the disastrous outcomes resulting from the Republican administration’s policies affecting Americans nationwide. It’s time we demonstrate that politics can transcend the cruelty we often witness from Washington, D.C.”
When asked about Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s impending campaign launch for governor, Mamdani stated she “exemplifies the very type of politics that has brought despair to our city, state, and nation.”
His ambitions extend beyond GOP criticisms. When discussing his proposal to increase state taxes on individuals earning over $1 million to fund initiatives like free, universal child care, Mamdani emphasized that “the most critical factor is securing funding for the agenda.” If state Gov. Kathy Hochul remains opposed to tax hikes but finds alternative revenue sources, he expressed openness to those options, prioritizing the delivery of his proposals.
Governor Hochul, who spoke at receptions before Mamdani, celebrated his victory as a significant achievement for Democrats statewide. Yet, she seemed acutely aware of their differing political ideologies. “Our fight is not against each other,” she stated. “It’s against Republicans in Washington who are jeopardizing our way of life and democracy.”
Just eleven days earlier, she had appeared at her first campaign rally with Mamdani, where he was met with chants of “Tax the Rich!” that drowned out her more moderate remarks. Even at the upscale Somos gathering, similar calls echoed when she took the stage.
“I hear you, but I’m the kind of person who tends to dig in my heels when pushed,” she remarked, offering a little lesson to her audience.
Mamdani plans to remain in San Juan until Saturday morning. However, he has already indulged in a local delicacy prior to his hotel arrival. “I’m proud to say,” he declared, “that in the few hours I’ve been here, I’ve already enjoyed some mofongo, and it was fantastic.”
