Zohran Mamdani faces multiple significant challenges in his bid to become New York City’s mayor. Here’s a list of them. There will be more in the coming days. In my opinion, the real problem is, big media such as New York Times, CNN, New York Post and such would create a barrage of lies to undermine Zohran’s candidacy.
By Dr. Partha Banerjee
(1) Business Community and Establishment Opposition: Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda—such as rent freezes, fare-free transit, city-run grocery stores, and raising taxes for top earners and corporations—have provoked sharp resistance from this mighty city’s business community and establishment figures, who worry these measures could drive away investment and burden taxpayers. Major business interests have not consolidated behind a single rival, but groups are mobilizing significant funds to oppose him. In the coming weeks, they might find their agreed-upon candidate, and I fear it could be the far-right radio talk host Curtis Sliwa. Wall Street, police lobby and powerful Bloomberg and Clinton status quo would not have a big problem falling behind a radical right mouthpiece, if they find him winnable.
(2) Skepticism about Policy Feasibility: Mamdani’s anti-establishment proposals are popular among working-class and younger voters but are criticized as expensive and potentially unworkable without state-level support, especially since leaders like Governor Kathy Hochul oppose his tax plans. He would need the cooperation of Albany to enact significant parts of his agenda. That might be a serious challenge, as the state legislature, apart from a few progressive leaders such as Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, are deeply ingrained in corporate politics.
(3) Demographic Weaknesses: He has struggled to gain traction with Black and Latino voters, who remain key constituencies in NYC politics. Analyst reports suggest he polls best among younger, more progressive and affluent white voters, while core base groups like Black voters backed his primary rival, Andrew Cuomo. Yet, silver lining is that black voters would be split between Eric Adams and Cuomo, while Mamdani’s base is solid.
(4) Religious-Ethnic Prejudice and National Security Attacks: As a South Asian Muslim and outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, Mamdani faces smear campaigns asserting he is anti-Israel or would impose Islamic law—narratives amplified with millions in negative advertising targeting his identity and views. Some Jewish and moderate voter blocs remain wary due to controversy around his past statements on Middle East politics. Again, big media that could have dispelled these propaganda have purposefully decided to remain silent, or worse, take an anti-Zohran stand – just the same way they treated a resurgent popular Bernie Sanders in 2016.
(5) Fractured Opposition Field: Republican, centrist Democratic, and independent groups are uniting to prevent Mamdani from winning, with figures like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams (the incumbent mayor running as an independent) drawing resources and attention in an attempt to deny Mamdani a majority. This has the potential to create unpredictable dynamics in November’s general election. The biggest strength for Mamdani is his young-generation base which he energized during the Democratic primaries. He needs to work extra hard to rally them.
(6) Political Inexperience: Critics argue Mamdani’s relatively thin legislative record and youth make him unprepared to manage the complex realities of New York City government, further fueling establishment pushback. This is a ploy they have used against other new-generation politicians such as Barack Obama. Yet, Obama proved them all wrong. The other plus for Mamdani is the newly-gained support from big labor unions such as 1199, DC 37, the nurses union, and so on. The New York City Labor Council, umbrella organization for all the AFL-CIO unions, also came forward to endorse him.
Zohran Mamdani enters the general election as the front-runner in a deeply Democratic city but must overcome entrenched establishment resistance, skepticism about his plans, identity-based attacks, demographic weaknesses, and a broad, well-funded opposition determined to block his insurgent campaign.
I am supporting this young, honest, bright, progressive politician to be my next mayor.
Dr. Partha Banerjee is the author of Gandhi’s Killers India’s Rulers (RBE, Kolkata, 2020) and In the Belly of the Beast: Hindu Supremacist RSS and BJP of India (Ajanta Books International, Delhi, 1998). Banerjee did his Ph.D. in biology from Southern Illinois University and his M.Sc. in journalism from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
