In electing Zohran Mamdani as mayor, New York City voters just reminded the country who still gets to decide in a democracy. Here’s a hint: it’s not party leaders, national political pundits, or swing state voters.

The elevation of a 34-year-old Muslim and avowed democratic socialist to the top office in the nation’s largest city has unsettled a Democratic establishment already wrestling over its identity, while thrilling Republicans who see in Mamdani a convenient new target.

Commentators warned prior to the election that the whole Democratic Party was on the ballot and Republicans would be waiting to hammer them if Mamdani won. But trying to read that much into one election is misguided — and worrying (or hoping) that Mamdani will become an albatross for other Democrats may prove equally off the mark.

First and foremost, “the Democrats” didn’t pick Mamdani. Voters in New York City did. That’s their right — that’s how this whole thing works. More voters in the city he was running in decided they wanted him to........

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