New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Sunday that democratic socialists can win across the country, using an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl to defend his influence after candidates he endorsed swept New York Democratic primaries and deepened his party’s ideological fight ahead of November.
“I think a democratic socialist can get elected anywhere across this country for any position,” Mamdani told Karl.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, made the claim on “This Week” after Karl asked whether a democratic socialist could be elected president. The exchange came after Mamdani-backed candidates Brad Lander, Claire Valez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won Democratic congressional primaries in New York, with Lander and Chevalier defeating incumbent Democrats.
“I think we are seeing a hunger that is not just felt by New Yorkers, but, frankly, by Americans from coast to coast for a new kind of politics, one that puts working people at the heart of it,” Mamdani said.
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The mayor rejected warnings from moderate Democrats that socialist wins in New York could hurt the party nationally, arguing that Democrats need a message beyond opposition to President Donald Trump.
“For far too long, all we’ve had to say as a party is opposition to the current administration,” Mamdani said. “What do we have to say beyond that?”
Mamdani said the New York results should be viewed as a broader message for Democrats as they look toward the midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
“What these candidates offer is a vision that extends beyond the midterms,” Mamdani said. “It extends beyond 2028.”
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Karl pressed Mamdani on Chevalier, who has faced scrutiny over past statements and posts supporting the abolition of prisons, borders and police. Chevalier’s campaign site lists “Abolish ICE” among her priorities.
“I think what the Democratic Party can win on nationally is a focus on working people,” Mamdani said. “I think that we can have disagreements on policy positions.”
Karl asked whether Democrats could disagree on “something as basic whether or not there should be prisons.”
“There are prisons,” Mamdani said. “And what we’re also showing in this city is that safety is not something that’s up for debate.”
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Mamdani also framed democratic socialism as governing pragmatism, pointing to his administration’s record on child care, tenants, potholes and crime.
“I think democratic socialism at the heart is pragmatic, because if we cannot deliver for working people, then what is this for?” Mamdani said.
The NYPD said earlier this month that New York City recorded its fewest murders, shooting incidents and shooting victims for the first five months of any year in recorded history. Mamdani cited those figures during the interview while defending his administration.
“What we’ve delivered for working people are the very things we were told were impossible,” Mamdani said.
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The interview came as a group of moderate Democrats promoted a “Promise to America” pledge declaring, “We are capitalist, not socialist.” The pledge also says Democrats should support “secure borders,” “safe communities,” “fiscal discipline” and “persuasion over purity.”
Mamdani dismissed the anti-socialist push when Karl raised it.
“I’m not interested in writing a manifesto or, frankly, in reading one,” Mamdani said. “I’m interested in delivering.”
Karl also pressed Mamdani on Israel, including whether he supports Israel as a Jewish state. Mamdani said he supports Israel as “a state with equal rights,” but declined to endorse the Jewish-state framing.
“I think any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can’t tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else,” Mamdani said.