'Democrats are nervous' over Zohran Mamdani’s potential win in New York City mayoral race: Report

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani’s reported lead in the polls for the NYC mayoral race is causing unease among some New York Democrats and in New Jersey, Florida and other regions.

A Suffolk University poll shows the 34-year-old self-described Democratic socialist is 44 per cent ahead of Andrew Cuomo, who is at 34 per cent, with Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, at 11 per cent.

Some Democrats fear Zohran Mamdani's candidacy is an electoral liability

Mamdani’s progressive policies are being viewed as "extremist" or "unrealistic” by the Democrats, and the party leaders are of the belief that it could harm their prospects in the crucial upcoming race, particularly the 2026 midterms. 

Not only in the Suffolk University Poll, Mamdani, is now ahead of his top challenger, former New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo, by double digits in a number of polls. 

Cuomo is contesting as an independent after he lost the Democratic primary election to Mamdani, while Sliwa remains as the Republican candidate. 

Mamdani's candidacy, however, has divided the Democratic Party’s loyalties. While some believe he is a liability on the ballot, others think his policies might energize and influence young voters. 

Moderate legislators in swing districts, however, have distanced themselves by declining to support him and declaring his policies beyond the party mainstream.

Democrats fear Zohran Mamdani might be employed to disrupt their efforts 

Democrats are mostly concerned about New York City’s suburbs and parts of New Jersey. 

These are areas with strong ties to the financial community that proved pivotal in the 2022 midterms, when Republicans flipped several congressional seats by focusing on issues like immigration and crime.

As the party fights to regain control of the House in the 2026 midterms, many worry that Mamdani’s candidacy could be used to undermine their efforts in this crucial region.

Rep Tom Suozzi (D-New York), who won back his Long Island district in a special election in February 2024 after the seat was left vacant by George Santos, has publicly emphasized his distance from democratic socialism.

He claimed that he is a “democratic capitalist, not a democratic socialist,” and called socialism a “failed economic system” that “hasn’t ever worked in the history of the world,” according to the Washington Post.

Suozzi added, “That’s just not something that we endorse or support.”

Rep Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), a moderate, voiced his concern to the Post that Mamdani’s “extremist views” clash with the party’s values and could make him a prime target for Republicans to use as a “bogeyman” in campaign attack ads. 

Dem New York Rep Laura Gillen similarly told the outlet that she is also in disagreement with many of Mamdani’s socialist policies.

Gillen has also publicly called for other Dems in Congress to say, “We are not socialists,” WaPo reports.

“Mamdani, much like President Donald Trump, has properly diagnosed the problems that people are confronting in their daily lives. They have economic insecurity. They’re worried about the cost of living,” Suozzi told the outlet. 

Donald Trump and Nancy Mace decry Zohran Mamdani’s presence in New York Mayoral race

Republicans, on the other hand, have responded to Mamdani’s primary win by drawing links between his policies and broader Democratic positions.

According to the Post, the National Republican Congressional Committee said it has plans to target vulnerable Democrats by tying them to Mamdani and socialism.

President Donald Trump called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” who “wants to destroy New York.” 

Rep Elise Stefanik (R-New York) referred to him as a “Commie,” while Rep Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) wrote that Mamdani “needs to be DEPORTED”.

Meanwhile, Rep Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) shared a photo of Mamdani and wrote, “After 9/11 we said ‘Never Forget.’ I think we sadly have forgotten.”