Mamdani's win is bigger than New York. Now Democrats have a clear path forward. [View all]

Opinion by Sara Pequeño, USA TODAY

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With his win, it’s clear we aren’t just watching a rising political star – we’re watching the party shift in real time.

Mamdani’s win signals to the most powerful people in the Democratic Party that they can, in fact, win elections by focusing on working-class issues. They can run bold, radical campaigns and even run the risk of being labeled “communists,” so long as they have a clear vision for what the future can look like for everyday people.

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What is remarkable is that Mamdani was able to keep this lead in spite of limited backing from the Democratic Party and huge amounts of spending against him by billionaires. Even though he has had the public’s support, the systems that normally support Democratic candidates were not on his side.

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Democrats would be wise to take this win seriously, instead of chalking it up to New York City’s liberal bias. This is a sign that the party can win, so long as its candidates appeal to the base’s most enthusiastic voters and focus on issues affecting the working class, like affordability and housing. These are issues that resonate beyond the five boroughs, and Democrats must recognize that instead of using the same playbook they’ve worked from for the past few election cycles.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/mamdani-s-win-is-bigger-than-new-york-now-democrats-have-a-clear-path-forward-opinion/ar-AA1POU3m