Mamdani’s Success Tests Democratic Party

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped into the national spotlight this week as a surging political force within the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders aren’t so sure that’s a good thing. Some of the most powerful Democrats in Washington downplayed the impact of Mamdani’s victories on Tuesday, when the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor’s slate of congressional candidates defeated three establishment favorites — including two incumbents — in primary contests. He had even more victories in state legislative races, where he successfully backed five other candidates. Mamdani now hopes to export his policies and politics to other states, and he’s demanding major changes across the Democratic Party.