1:38New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani attends a press conference to talk about rental costs on Oct. 1, 2025, in the Bronx area of New York.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Upon Donald Trump’s victory against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential contest, Grace Mausser had recently completed her college studies.
"I was deeply ingrained within the liberal establishment — leaning towards the progressive side — yet I firmly anticipated Hillary Clinton’s triumph," expressed the 31-year-old Houstonian. "Just like countless others, I experienced total disbelief and genuine disappointment."
In her quest to channel her letdown into constructive action, Mausser remembered the zeal behind Bernie Sanders' presidential bid that year — along with his self-identification as a democratic socialist throughout the campaign.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attends a news conference to address the cost of rent on Oct. 1, 2025, in the Bronx borough of New York.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Mausser discovered the Democratic Socialists of America and became engaged in her local New York City affiliate, where she encountered then-New York State Assembly nominee Zohran Mamdani, a DSA member since 2017.
While Mausser would later advance within New York’s progressive political circles, eventually co-chairing New York City DSA, Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, catapulting the organization that endorsed and championed his campaign further into the national arena.
Following Mamdani’s primary win in June, Trump turned to social media, labeling the 33-year-old as "a 100% Communist Lunatic." Throughout the election season, Trump and various Republicans have persistently referred to Mamdani as a "communist."
Mamdani has asserted that he is not a communist, reiterating this on ABC's "The View" last Wednesday, where he clarified to the co-hosts that he identifies as a democratic socialist.
Democratic socialism represents a political drive advocating for the establishment of a decentralized socialist economic framework within a democratically governed political system. It stands apart from socialism, which is occasionally linked to communism and doesn’t necessarily ensure a democratic form of administration.
Consequently, socialism is frequently employed to characterize the political and economic structures of nations like Cuba and Venezuela, and the term might politically estrange certain voters owing to its connection with these countries.
However, a recent Gallup survey indicated a potential shift in perspectives toward socialism among left-leaning Americans, with 66% of Democrats now harboring a favorable outlook on socialism, an increase from 50% in 2010.
"I believe individuals are trapped in outdated thought patterns. Trump, being in his 70s, perhaps still views the world through the lens of the Cold War," Mausser remarked, alluding to the Soviet Union's promotion of socialist ideology in the aftermath of World War II.
"Socialists have existed in America since the very coinage of the term," stated Michael Kazin, a history professor at Georgetown University and author of "What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party." "During the Cold War era, socialism, to most Americans, signified the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, or North Korea—a tyrannical, one-party regime. Unsurprisingly, the majority of Americans wished to avoid any involvement with such systems."
Kazin notes that socialists formerly campaigned under their own party banners, rarely anticipating any actual electoral victories.
"It served as an educational endeavor," Kazin elaborated. "The goal was to elucidate the essence of socialism to the public."
However, in 1982, a merger between two socialist entities led to the formation of the Democratic Socialists of America, guided by Michael Harrington, who envisioned a distinct approach for anti-capitalists to engage with the American political landscape.
"Harrington's concept revolved around socialists exerting influence not through operating as a separate party," explained Maurice Isserman, a history professor at Hamilton College and the biographer of "The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington." "They aimed to amplify their ideas and impact by participating in the Democratic Party electorally."
Harrington’s initial vision for DSA — perhaps best encapsulated by his foundational phrase, “the left wing of the possible” — remains apparent within DSA today.
"DSA employs a strategy of pursuing the Democratic ballot line to demonstrate socialists’ capacity to govern," Mausser stated. "We are intent on winning elections. Herein lies our divergence from groups such as the Green Party, which maintains its own ballot line yet has seen limited success."
Megan Romer, a co-chair of the national Democratic Socialists of America, remarked that perspectives on socialism have evolved.
"Sixty years ago, the mention of socialism conjured images of Stalin, whereas today, people understand it as something entirely different. It can embody whatever they wish it to, given its democratic and collective nature," Romer elaborated.
Upon DSA’s founding at the inception of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, left-leaning factions lacked the political or cultural wherewithal to launch successful electoral campaigns. Yet, the dawn of the 21st century brought forth the 2008 financial meltdown — alongside the ensuing Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party movements — leading Americans to question the economic establishment from both right-wing and left-wing perspectives.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani smiles while riding a subway in New York, Sept. 29, 2025.Shannon Stapleton/Reuters, FILE
"There was an emerging sense — particularly in retrospect — that politics was genuinely bifurcating along economic fault lines," observed Greg Krieg, a Democratic strategist and media director for the New York-based political consultancy, Slingshot Strategies.
According to Krieg, right-leaning individuals embraced the Tea Party movement — which ultimately paved the way for Trump’s triumphant 2016 campaign — while those on the left prepared the groundwork for Sanders’ political ascendance.
In the wake of the 2016 election, DSA’s membership burgeoned — as did its political prowess. Mausser notes that 2016 marked the year New York City DSA pioneered the electoral approach that would help establish the foundation for Mamdani’s mayoral bid nearly a decade later.
"[DSA] is well-structured in New York, displaying focus and possessing clear ideas regarding its objectives and capabilities," Krieg stated. "While this wasn’t always the case, it has evolved over the years."
Then, in 2018, the DSA-backed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was elected to the United States House of Representatives, showcasing the extent to which a robust door-knocking campaign can contribute to electing democratic socialist politicians.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
However, when the 2021 New York City mayoral election approached, DSA refrained from endorsing a candidate, despite having amassed a substantial canvassing infrastructure in prior years.
"I posit that the issue in 2021 stemmed from the absence of a candidate akin to Zohran," Krieg offered.
According to Mausser, when New York City DSA evaluates whether to endorse a candidate, they consider the candidate’s alignment with their ideology and vision, in addition to assessing the likelihood of victory. In 2021, these factors were absent, Mausser added.
"However, when we commenced discussions with Zohran about a potential run, it presented a distinct scenario," Mausser stated. "Here was someone who had collaborated closely with us, someone we knew intimately as both an organizer and an elected official, and someone committed to integrating democratic socialist values into the mayoral office."
Following his primary triumph, Mamdani is now dedicated to securing his path to victory in the general election. This task may have grown more challenging since Mayor Eric Adams withdrew his reelection bid, further narrowing the pool of candidates positioned to Mamdani’s right on the political spectrum. Consequently, Mamdani has distanced himself from the national DSA platform recently, informing reporters that his platform is solely the one available on his website.
"Zohran has indeed created some distance, undoubtedly a tactical choice on his part," Romer noted. "However, his disagreements with certain DSA aspects epitomize the essence of DSA. Naturally, he disagrees with things — as we all do."
According to Romer, as a democratic organization, DSA members are not expected to concur on all matters, but are instead encouraged to propose and debate diverse concepts.
As Mamdani maintains his lead in the polls, the focus shifts toward governance, where the stakes are exceedingly high for advocates who view his candidacy as a potential gateway for other democratic socialists.
Conversely, others disapprove of Mamdani’s perspectives. During a mayoral forum earlier in the week, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — Mamdani’s rival in the election, running as an independent following his defeat by Mamdani in the Democratic primary — denounced Mamdani’s agenda, contending that it would be detrimental to New York City and asserting to the audience, "We operate within a regulated capitalist economy, not a socialist one."
"[Mamdani’s] achievements or setbacks as mayor will be evaluated, justly or unjustly, as a benchmark for the governing capabilities of democratic socialists and politicians with democratic socialist affiliations," Krieg emphasized.
As for Mamdani’s supporters, they express confidence in a general election victory and harbor optimism for a successful mayoralty — believing that the movement’s trajectory might hinge on it.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
