The Daily Populous Monday June 29th, 2026 morning edition
Authored by ms.now and submitted by spherocytes

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has a message for political opponents using him as the new face of the Democratic Party: “Let them.”

Recent primary races in New York turned into a proxy war between progressives, including democratic socialists like Mamdani, and establishment Democratic politicians after candidates endorsed by Mamdani faced off against those endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. After all three of Mamdani’s endorsements bore fruit, a national spotlight shone on the mayor as a growing influence in the Democratic Party.

Asked on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday how he felt about Republicans making him the “poster child” for the Democratic Party, Mamdani said, “Let them. We don’t have to ask ourselves what life looks like if a socialist wins. I won last November, and over the course of these last six months, what we’ve delivered for working people are the very things we were told were impossible.”

He touted recent campaign promises he delivered on, including freezing rents for nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments, expanding free child care and filling potholes across the city.

“I think we are seeing a hunger that is not just felt by New Yorkers, but frankly by Americans from coast to coast for a new politics, one that puts working people at the heart of it,” Mamdani told ABC.

Illustrious-Jump-590 on June 28th, 2026 at 21:59 UTC »

I think this helps the democrats more than hurts them. Much more. I do not really know what the GOP think this does

Xyldarrand on June 28th, 2026 at 21:56 UTC »

A young charasmatic leader as the face of the party?

Fuck sign me up.

Senasayori on June 28th, 2026 at 21:55 UTC »

I don't think the GOP's strategy to make Mamdani the poster child will go the way they think it will go.