In just a few months, Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist, has gone from a long-shot fringe candidate to a national figure — securing an upset win in the June primary, where voters 18-29 had the highest turnout of any age group.
Now, on the cusp of Election Day — where polls show him the clear frontrunner over his closest rival, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — Mamdani is counting on that youth coalition to show up again. But his pledge to address rising costs appears to be resonating with young people far outside of the five boroughs. It’s a message that many Gen Z and millennials say speaks to their most pressing concerns at a time when many feel hopeless about their leaders and yearn for new voices willing to break with political norms.
“When a candidate is able to speak to the concerns of the populace and validate those concerns … I think that that has a big impact, especially when it comes to young people,” said Ruby Belle Booth, who studies young voters for the nonpartisan research organization CIRCLE.
I’m in my middle aged years, whatever I’ve read of him seems hopeful if he’s the future. Also not from the US but if they can vote in someone like that for, what is considered one the the top cities in the world’s, mayor that is encouraging. If elected I hope he proves what is better for people.
Seriously we always have someone okay vs someone that wants to take away benefits from the less well off of our neighbors and friends (I will say I’m luckier but not exactly out of that group). It’s refreshing to see someone to least state he wants to make a better balance.
Heaven forbid billionaires make a few less dollars that they only use to influence things to their preferences. No one is perfect but his ideals have merit it seems.