The candidates’ stances on Israel were an issue in the races. Mamdani had initially pledged his support to Espaillat but flipped to support Chevalier, a far-left activist with an incendiary digital footprint and a history of anti-Israel comments. Goldman, in his second term, drew fire for his support of Israel and the primary illustrated Democrats’ divisions over the Israel-Gaza war. Lander, meanwhile, has accused Israel of genocide. And Valdez, a relative newcomer to elected office, emerged over Reynoso despite him having Velázquez’s backing.
All three Democratic nominees hail from deep-blue strongholds, meaning they are very likely to coast to election come November. Still, they could become a headache for party leaders as the base continues to work through what it means to be a Democrat these days.
To Democrats in Washington, Mamdani’s impact is a mix of impressive and concerning. The nation’s largest city elected an avowed democratic socialist as its mayor. Yet most Americans still hold a more favorable view of capitalism than socialism. In 2021, 60% of Americans held a favorable view of capitalism but today that number stands at 54%, according to Gallup polling. Socialism, meanwhile, has a 57% negative standing.
