Zohran Mamdani’s victory on Tuesday night has launched a wave of enthusiasm across the progressive left and a wave of analysis in the political press.

The core question is simple: Can a young, Muslim, card-carrying Democratic Socialists of America candidate beat powerful establishment figures anywhere in the country? Is this a New York phenomenon, or a sign of a shift in the Democratic electorate as a whole?

The answer is yes.

Yes, the failure of the “too big to fail” mayoral candidacy of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, armed with millions in establishment cash, in the face of a volunteer-driven challenge from the left, can happen anywhere. Cuomo can stand in for the increasingly tone-deaf national Democratic Party leadership, which has insisted since the 2024 loss that the party has to moderate its views and dismissed elected youth leader David Hogg for threatening to primary older Democratic congressional members, even after the debacle of the Biden 2024 campaign.

And yes, the specific combination of a generationally talented, principled, and authentic candidate with deep connections to social movements whose campaign successfully mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers going up against Cuomo, in particular, played a significant role in Mamdani’s success.

The lessons from Mamdani’s campaign can power insurgent progressive challengers to moderate Democratic machine candidates in other races, even outside of deep-blue urban centers (and it’s worth remembering that New York has a long history of Republican mayors).

First, Mamdani hammered on affordability, pushing an economically progressive policy platform of free buses, a rent freeze, and free child care, which sent a clear message to voters about his priorities. He also pushed a handful of innovative ideas, such as municipally owned grocery stores and higher taxes on the rich, which drew people in with the spark of the new.

And he hit the streets. With public engagements and visits to communities across New York City, he presented an image as an open-minded and wholesome man of the people, and included his commitments to human solidarity and dignity — including for the Palestinian people — throughout his speeches. His campaign quickly became associated with cost of living, and while his proposals were attacked for not being “realistic,” he stayed faithful to his message, which motivated over 29,000 volunteers to knock over 1 million doors.

His successful use of social media, including strategic collaborations with popular progressive influencers, also helped get his message out. The economic message, commitment to solidarity, and amazing ground game can absolutely be replicated, with the right principled candidate and a strong network of grassroots organizations and mobilized volunteers.

Mamdani also stressed social justice issues, such as protections for the LGBTQ and immigrant communities from Trump. And though he was never shy about expressing his beliefs on Palestine, his campaign focused mostly on universal issues of economic justice and access that would disproportionately help marginalized communities and communities of color.

For example, Black families with school-age children have left New York City over the past 20 years at the highest rate compared to any other group, according to census data, simply because the cost of having children was too high. Mamdani’s plan to provide free child care at birth (and the soaring costs of child care is documented as a significant source of economic pressure for New Yorkers), baby boxes to new parents, and universal afterschool........

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