For all those New Yorkers contemplating a leap into the socialist waters with mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune issues a cautionary note: steer clear of the turbulent currents that have swept through the Windy City.
If you’ve been keeping tabs on the New York City mayoral race—a contest that often reveals the political directions parties may take post-presidential elections—you might have noticed Mamdani’s remarkable rise from just 1 percent in the Democratic primary to nearly neck-and-neck with the frontrunner, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Perhaps New Yorkers are recalling that Andrew Cuomo is, well, still Andrew Cuomo. Or maybe it’s due to the fact that Mamdani hasn’t put any grandmothers in harm’s way or harassed anyone’s daughters (yet). It could also be that the progressive faction of the party typically shows up in droves for these primary events.
Regardless of the reasons, a recent Emerson College/WPIX-TV/The Hill poll indicates that Mamdani is favored to win the ranked-choice voting contest on Tuesday, per WCBS-TV. While predicting outcomes in such a format can be tricky, the data suggests Cuomo will lead slightly in the first round with 35 percent, compared to Mamdani’s 32 percent.
However, as candidates are winnowed out, Mamdani is poised to gain 18 points after eight rounds, while Cuomo is projected to secure only 12 additional points. Thus, the final tally could see Mamdani triumph with a 50-47 percent advantage in the ranked-choice voting.
This scenario should spark concern among anyone invested in the future of New York City. While it’s perfectly reasonable to hesitate before throwing full support behind Andy “I Kill Seniors” Cuomo, it’s equally unwise to endorse a candidate who appears to be a socialist-in-training, eager to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour, establish government-operated grocery stores, arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has defended his previous declaration to “globalize the intifada,” claiming it’s not meant to be taken literally.
But don’t just take my word for it. The editorial board of one of Chicago’s leading newspapers warns that such promises could lead to disaster for New York. They should know, as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was elected on a diluted version of this platform, minus the subtle anti-Semitic undertones. And how’s that working out?
“Johnson is one of the most progressive mayors in the U.S., but Mamdani is undeniably even more radical,” noted the Chicago Tribune editorial board in a recent piece.
“Most of Mamdani’s proposals are at least conceptually aligned with those of Mayor Brandon Johnson, and many resonate with voters in blue cities. However, our experience has taught us that far-left candidates often struggle to serve effectively as municipal leaders in today’s challenging economic climate,” the piece observed.
“Johnson attempted to implement a $300 million tax increase—only to face failure. He pushed for a ‘mansion tax’ that would have escalated the real estate transfer tax—and failed. He has managed to produce too few affordable housing units, costing too much,” it continued.
“He has distanced himself from numerous state and federal officials who might provide financial assistance, and he has granted significant special favors to the very groups that supported his election—most notably, negotiating a costly new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union,” the editorial highlighted. “He ousted a highly qualified schools chief who resisted his reckless borrowing plans. The city is in financial distress, yet he seeks to increase spending. The list of missteps goes on.”
Indeed, the dismal condition of Chicago’s schools was recently underscored when the head of the Chicago Teachers Union stated that the school district must take out a loan to cover its staggering half-billion dollar budget deficit.
“The choices made in the budget manifest in real impacts that our students experience,” said Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“These budgetary decisions left students at Julian High School without a math teacher for nearly a year, and Clemente High School without a chemistry teacher. … These are not mere coincidences; these are choices.”
And these choices could soon be heading to a school near you if 1) you reside in New York City and 2) Mamdani secures the mayoralty. Exciting times for Gothamites, right? Are you not entertained?
The editorial board warned of where this trajectory leads.
“Johnson’s approval ratings plummeted in his second year—reflecting how rapidly progressive promises can disintegrate when faced with the realities of governance and Chicago’s fiscal challenges. What seemed appealing in theory has turned into dysfunction, driven by financial miscalculations and a lack of political acumen,” they wrote.
They expressed cautious optimism, noting that higher voter turnout compared to Johnson’s 2023 primary election could alter the outcome.
“Voter participation in the Chicago mayoral primary was dismally low—only 36 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in 2023. We attribute this partly to the city’s choice to hold these primary elections in February, during the harshest winter weather, although mail-in voting is available as a solution for those reluctant to brave the cold,” the board explained.
“Low turnout facilitates the rise of radicals to public office. This is a mistake we hope New Yorkers will avoid. If residents are dissatisfied with Mayor Eric Adams, they should be wary of swapping him for a candidate who might lead to a city that is less competitive and more financially unstable.
“Believe us—we’ve lived through this reality.”
Regrettably, this may be a case of wishful thinking; the more engaged New Yorkers become in the mayoral race, the more they seek an alternative to Andrew Cuomo. His debate performance was lackluster, his campaign uninspired, and he cannot realistically campaign on his experience, as that’s precisely what led to his downfall.
Nevertheless, Mamdani is not the solution, despite the enthusiasm from the left in the Big Apple. While Republicans may not play a significant role in November’s election, it’s worth noting that the controversial current Mayor Eric Adams is running as an independent.
If he becomes the only obstacle to Mamdani’s rise, one can only hope that the Turkish community will come through with a cool $50 million or something. It might just be the last hope for the more rational citizens of our nation’s largest city.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
