Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine) 05.11.2025
Mamdani won the mayoral election despite strong opposition from Trump, who threatened that if elected, he would not fund federal funding for New York. And despite the opposition of much of the Democratic Party’s establishment. Mamdani, who describes himself as a socialist, is known for his harsh criticism of Israel and the genocide it is carrying out in Gaza, as well as for the reforms he promises: free bus transportation for school children. Freezing housing prices in the expensive city. He won big, and that’s a blow to the Trumpists and a victory for the masses.
If he had run as an independent socialist, he would have had to be given critical support, but he ran as part of the Democratic Party, the enemy of the working class and which supported the genocide of the Gazans by the Zionist monster.
There are already clear signs that he will turn his back on the reforms he promises. A few days ago, he said that there is no place for millionaires in a democratic society, but since then he has met with representatives of large companies and before the elections he said that there is room for everyone in the city. He chose advisers who reflected the position of the Democratic Party’s establishment.
The right-wing centrists ISA participated in organizing their support for him in the elections:
“The campaign’s 50,000 volunteer canvassers (including members of Socialist Alternative) will not only be vital for his win in November, but represents a starting point to build a movement that can win his demands. A mass movement organized around winning Zohran’s program could also be mobilized to combat Trump and the right wing and inspire struggle nationally and internationally”.[i]
Also, while we want to replace the bourgeois institution with workers and soldiers’ councils, to day we can not win them and it is necessary to have a position on municipal or Parliamentary elections and use the tactic of critical support when left candidate is running independently from the Republican and the Democratic parties especially when we are still small.
In the short run his victory will give more energy to the masses but in the long run it will lead to demoralization.
Down with the Republican and the Democratic parties!
For a working class independent committed to the working- class party!
For a worker’s government!
[i] https://internationalsocialist.net/2025/09/zohran-in-the-lions-den-no-compromise-with-the-establishment/