Experts see 'Mamdani effect' driving a surge of millennial and Gen Z political candidates
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory in the New York City mayoral election is being seen as more than just a local political shift, as it has sparked conversation about the broader generational transformation in American leadership.
Experts predict the 34-year-old's win represents a growing appetite for young voices and progressive ideas, suggesting it could mark a turning point that motivates more millennials and Gen Z to join politics.
Zohran Mamdani's win sparks a wave of young candidates
Grace Smoker, vice president of media strategy at Stu Loeser & Co, a New York-based political media consulting group, told ABC News that the mayor-elect will likely not be the only candidate under 35 who will be making waves in future elections. "It's absolutely a nationwide movement," Smoker said.
According to a group that is working to increase millennial and Gen Z representation in elected offices, the political reaction to Mamdani's win has already been large.
Run for Something, an organization that recruits and supports progressive candidates under 40 to run for local and state offices, saw 10,000 people sign up for its services in the two weeks following Mamdani's Democratic primary win in June. It has had 2,000 people sign up since Tuesday, November 4, according to Amanda Litman, its co-founder and president.
"My expectations are that we will see those numbers grow as they see they can win," Litman told ABC News, referring to younger political candidates.
Voter frustration is fuelling the wave
"We are already seeing evidence of senior members of Congress facing challenges from younger members, and they're being backed by the voters," Jonathan Hanson, a political scientist and lecturer in statistics at the University of Michigan, told ABC News. "They're saying it's time for a fresh face."
"People are frustrated with things that are happening, and they're going to mobilize. Along with that will come candidates who will want to ride the wave," he noted, referring to the high polarization and dissatisfaction with the current state of politics.
Young candidates use social media to connect with voters
Grace Smoker said the democratic socialist and other successful candidates under 35 have taken advantage of this sentiment to effectively sell themselves and their ideas.
According to her, those candidates grew up with the internet and social media, and they've been tapping into online platforms to effectively sell their campaigns in ways that their older counterparts can't replicate.
Pointing out to Mamdani’s earlier social media campaigns, where he filmed himself casually talking to New Yorkers who voted for Donald Trump last year and asked what their motivation was.
She noted that the video not only helped sell Mamdani's focus on affordability but also introduced him to the young voting bloc that helped strengthen his campaign.
"It's not about doing a TikTok, it is really about understanding when you are being cringe," she said. "I think that is the biggest factor we're seeing in these successful campaigns. They know how to communicate and listen."
