Trusting the System

 Zohran Mamdani's impending mayorship puts our democratic system to the test.

New York City elected a new mayor yesterday, 34-year-old upstart Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, glibly espouses all sorts of progressive economic policies designed to lower the high cost of living in NYC. Foremost among these are freezing rent prices, a free subway system, and city-owned grocery stores: a classic-hits lineup of Failed-Every-Time Socialism singles. Even so, boosted by an incredibly well-run political campaign, Mamdani shocked the establishment Democrat candidate Andrew Cuomo in the primary, and then, yesterday, defeated him again in the general election. Inconsolable, our nation's news-cycle artists are in turmoil. 

Republicans and Democrats each have their problems with Mamdani. Mainstream Democrats remain, for the most part, leery of so openly tearing down the comfort of our free-market system, along with the alienation of important wealthy donors that accompanies it. More pragmatically, Democrats, with an anxious eye towards 2026 and 2028, are desperately trying to shed themselves of the more extremist wings of the left that the nation clearly rejected in the 2024 election. Republicans, on the other hand, have resorted to somewhat less thoughtful criticisms. Florida Representative Randy Fine publicly called for Mamdani, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to be deported to Uganda. Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles' comment, posted from his official grey-check account, was even more reprehensible. Notable Republicans have endorsed Cuomo, the former Democratic governor of New York now running as an independent, over the actual Republican in the race, Curtis Sliwa. Perhaps surprisingly, this notably included President Donald Trump, for whom Cuomo's unsavory history was so compelling as to warrant an endorsement with a Republican candidate still in the field.  

But we shouldn't be freaking out over the impending communist takeover of NYC. Why not? This is how our system is supposed to work. 

The voters in NYC democratically chose Mr. Mamdani to be their mayor. He was clear about his positions and beliefs (he ran possibly one of the most public-facing campaigns in recent memory, certainly for a mayoral election). He is a citizen of the US and a resident of NYC, and he convinced his fellow NYC residents to elect him mayor. If our American system is going to work (as it has, successfully, for over two centuries) we have to be able to trust the denizens of NYC to vote for their own mayor. And if not? They will face the consequences of their own actions. 

Two points about Mamdani's economically progressive agenda: first, he's unable to enact these sweeping reforms by himself. He's going to have to work together with the city Council and state government, especially when it comes to issues like raising taxes. Again, this is the system functioning as intended: NYC's system of checks and balances protects it from radical table-upending change, while allowing the people to elect representatives they wish. Mamdani's revolutionary effect is likely to be more muted than some might expect. Second, this is what NYC voted for. They wanted a socialist mayor, and that's what they're going to get. If (and when) some of his policies backfire, they can blame no one but themselves. He certainly wasn't reticent about his plans for the city. If it's a disaster, NYC can correct its mistake four years from now. But it follows from the concept of "government by the people" that if the people want socialism, they should be able to try it. 

There's one final point I believe bears discussion. When you vote for a politician, you are choosing a person, not a policy platform. You are choosing someone to represent you.  Usually, you're going to want someone with whom you agree on major policy points, but that's not the only qualification for an elected official. It's undeniable that you also want quality people -- people you can trust -- running your government, even if that often seems unrealistically optimistic. Mamdani has at least two steps on Cuomo in the Decent Person department. First, of course, is that he was never forced to resign as governor of New York due to having sexually harassed eleven women. (This is tangential to the topic at hand, but I marvel at how disorganized the post-Obama Democratic party remains as to be utterly incapable of running even a decent candidate in crucial elections. The bar is extremely low.) Second, forgive me for being swayed by a talented politician, but it's clear that Mamdani actually cares more about the city than Cuomo. Mamdani has put in the work required to win this election; he has canvassed up and down the city and inspired record voter turnout. It certainly appears that he genuinely wants to make NYC more affordable, even if most of his policies will do exactly the opposite. But here's the thing: he doesn't have to convince you or me. Unless you live and vote in New York City, in which case you get what you vote for. 

Good mayor or not, the point stands: the people of NYC are receiving the American dream: governing themselves. They have no excuses if this goes badly. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. But even if it does: take heart: America is resilient enough to survive it. For the system was not designed to prevent bad people from ever taking office. Goodness knows it hasn't achieved that. But it was designed (and has succeeded) to protect us when it happened. So while it's fair to be cautious about Mamdani's policies, we should, as Curtis Sliwa did, gracious in defeat, wish him good luck as he pilots the largest city in the nation.