Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialist Movement of America
Reporter
July 2, 2025 | 06:57 am
Zohran Mamdani has captured public attention as a strong candidate for the future Mayor of New York. "I think everyone was shocked and surprised by his unexpected victory," said Patrick Egan, a professor of political science and public policy at New York University as quoted from NPR, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Zohran Mamdani has been declared the winner in the Democratic Party's preliminary election for the Mayor of New York. He is leading with 43.5 percent of the votes. His opponent, former governor Andrew Cuomo, secured 36.4 percent of the votes. "Tonight, we made history," said Mamdani as quoted from Telegraph. Mamdani is a socialist politician who actively voices the issue of genocide in Palestine.
Zohran Mamdani's Political Movement
As cited from Forward, Mamdani has expressed views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also helped establish the Students for Justice in Palestine branch at his Bowdoin College campus where he majored in African studies. After graduation, Mamdani initially believed that advocating for Palestine might disqualify him from American politics.
Mamdani's passion for politics grew when he met Khader El Yateem, who ran for city council member in New York in 2017. At that time, Mamdani actively contributed to El-Yateem's campaign.
Mamdani won a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020 after defeating a four-term incumbent in the primary election. He became the first South Asian man to serve in that body. Mamdani represents the 36th district, which includes the Astoria neighborhood in Queens. Since then, he has won reelection unopposed in 2022 and 2024.
As cited from the website Democratic Socialist of America, the DSA is a political and activist organization through campus and community-based branches. DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States with over 80,000 members and branches in all 50 states.
The focus of the DSA movement is on the working class, aiming for a democratic economy and society to meet human needs, rather than for the profit of a few. DSA members employ various tactics, from legislative to direct action, to advocate for empowering workers.
In 2017, DSA issued a resolution expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against apartheid, colonialism, and military occupation, advocating for equality and human rights.
In its resolution, DSA responded to the call from civil society in Palestine by fully supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. DSA emphasized that any solution to the ongoing political crisis must be based on the realization of basic human rights, including all rights outlined in the BDS call.
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