Democratic Socialists won big in NY. Do they offer a way forward for Democrats?
6/24/202610 min
On Tuesday, Congressional candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zorhan Mamdani performed well in the New York primaries.
The electoral victories were a major win for Mamdani, who put his political reputation on the line by endorsing the slate of leftist candidates.
But about a year ago, centrist Democrats seemed skeptical of Mamdani's politics and approach. Do they have something to learn?
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This episode was produced by Michelle Aslam and Tyler Bartlam.
It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.
Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsScott Detrow· Host0:00
It's Consider This, where every day we go deep on one big news story. Today, a banner New York primary for left-wing candidates and what that means for the Democratic Party.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:10
Where all three of the congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zarin Mamdani advanced to the midterms after Claire Valdés, she was declared the winner in Brooklyn's 7th Congressional District. That seat Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier, a community organizer.
Scott Detrow· Host0:22
She toppled incumbent Adriano Espaillat.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:25
That seat Former New York City controller Brad Lander, he had a big win over incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman.
Scott Detrow· Host0:30
Tuesday's electoral victories were a major win for New York City Mayor Zarin Mamdani, who put his political reputation on the line by endorsing the slate.
Zarin Mamdani· Guest0:38
It's a statement that the status quo will no longer be sufficient.
Scott Detrow· Host0:41
But about a year ago, some in the Democratic Party establishment considered him a pariah. Here's Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, speaking on CNBC last year. And we don't need a job-killing socialist. Consider this. Since 2024, the Democratic Party has been struggling to define itself. So do centrist Democrats have something to learn from Mayor Mamdani? From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow.
Speaker 41:08
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