Mamdani Thought He Could Throw His Weight Around, Figures Out Hard Way He’s Not Worth Much Yet

Mary Rooke Commentary and Analysis Writer December 11, 2025 2:30 PM ET The newly elected Democratic socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, is the portrait of an ambitious outsider overreaching in a high-stakes institutional game. Anonymous sources from Mamdani’s transition team admitted to Politico that he’s struggling to navigate the treacherous waters of

Powered by NewsAPI , in on .


Mary Rooke

Commentary and Analysis Writer



The newly elected Democratic socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, is the portrait of an ambitious outsider overreaching in a high-stakes institutional game.

Anonymous sources from Mamdani’s transition team admitted to Politico that he’s struggling to navigate the treacherous waters of local power politics. His tenure as mayor and his ability to reshape the city in his own image could depend on a single city council race. It was the first test of Mamdani’s newfound political power in the wake of his massive mayoral victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and he failed.




Read More