New York Times Reporter Labels Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Socialism’ as Merely a Belief in Equitable Treatment
On Saturday, New York Times reporter Jeffery C. Mays asserted that NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is not truly a socialist, despite his Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) membership. Mays claimed that the closest Mamdani gets to socialism is his belief in treating people more equitably, rather than adhering to the traditional principles of socialism.
Mays argued that Mamdani’s opponents have derogatively labeled the mayoral hopeful as both a ‘socialist’ and a ‘democratic socialist’ in an effort to reduce his poll numbers. However, Mays emphasized that democratic socialism is not the same as socialism, noting that Mamdani’s platform primarily consists of policies like providing free busing and childcare in NYC through increased taxation, which he described as ‘nothing remotely close to a socialist-like takeover of private companies.’
Despite these claims, Mamdani has received the endorsement of the New York DSA for mayor and was part of the DSA’s eight-member ‘Socialists in Office’ group in the New York State Legislature. Nevertheless, his past remarks, such as his 2021 video urging conference attendees not to compromise on goals like ‘seizing the means of production,’ have fueled his opponents’ criticism. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York has also stated that New Yorkers wouldn’t resonate with Mamdani’s self-proclaimed democratic socialist message.
Mays further pointed out that while Mamdani is a member of both the local and national DSA, the organization describes itself as the ‘largest socialist organization’ in the country. This has led to a debate over whether Mamdani’s policies align with traditional socialist ideals or are more aligned with democratic socialist principles. The Times reporter concluded that Mamdani’s platform, while progressive, does not represent a true socialist takeover of private companies, highlighting the distinction between the two ideologies.
As the mayoral race intensifies, the debate over Mamdani’s political identity continues to shape the dynamics within the Democratic Party, with concerns about the potential for a far-left takeover in New York. The controversy reflects broader discussions about the definitions and implications of socialism and democratic socialism in contemporary politics.