Gen Z on the millennial mayor

On election night in Downtown Brooklyn, hundreds filed into the Paramount theater to hear Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s victory speech. He delivered a message of hope, the very thing that made voters, especially Gen Z ones in the New York City politics scene, drawn to him.

“It was just electric energy all over that room,” said Carlos Calzadilla-Palacio, founder of Disrupt and president emeritus of the Brooklyn Young Democrats. “I spent a lot of time hugging and talking to so many people that I have known throughout my life, working in politics and my activism, and it really felt like a really big family.”

“In that moment, we really knew that history was being made right in front of our eyes,” added the 28-year-old. “And it really gave me hope, a lot, a lot of hope.”

Months earlier in June, Mamdani’s primary win came as the first sign of the tide changing, after months of the Trump administration implementing drastic changes that affected young people such as threatening the free speech rights of student protesters, ordering ICE raids in workplaces and revoking student immigration visas. In our own backyard, Mayor Eric Adams was running for reelection after facing a five-count federal indictment.

“I think Mamdani is a new voice of leadership and a change in leadership from the old guard,” said Andrew Alfonso, 27, a member of the Manhattan Young Democrats. “As a younger person, it was just exciting to see ourselves represented and taking on this serious leadership role.”

Ahead of the general election, a September New York Times and Siena University poll found 73% of likely voters from ages 18-29 said they would vote for Mamdani if the election was held that day.

Now, 100 days into his administration, the new mayor is working toward delivering on his progressive campaign promises while not abandoning his base, including the Gen Z’ers who played a pivotal role in electing him.

And he’s maintained support. A March Marist poll found 60% of New York City adults between 18 and 29 approve of the job he’s doing, while just 18% disapprove. That was his best age bracket by a significant margin.

For Sebastian Leon Martinez, Mamdani's success matters not only as a young New Yorker but as the New York City Young Democratic Socialists of America coordinator. “There's obviously discourse as to his decisions in these first 100 days,” Leon Martinez said. “But I think a lot of young people, and a lot of young organizers especially, despite any political differences see the mayor as someone who is intentionally trying to build power for the progressive left in the city.”

With the Mamdani administration well underway, left Gen Z politicos remain optimistic but are realistic about how quickly Mamdani can deliver on his campaign promises.

“He can't snap his finger and bring rents down,” Alfonso said. 

But he said he “feels a sense of optimism and hope in the city,” especially when compared to the Adams administration. “I think that (Mamdani) is really adhering to the ‘sewer socialism’ belief set that he laid out early on in his campaign,” he said. “Basic quality of life issues are really where he's going to focus on.”

Calzadilla-Palacio was similarly pleased. “As someone who worked in government, I understand how difficult governing is in getting things done,” he said. “And honestly, I have to say I've just been very impressed in the way he's been able to handle a lot of the challenges and the difficulties.”

While young Democrats are hopeful, Republicans are not impressed.

“His three biggest things have been instituting race laws, threatening to raise taxes and filling in potholes. That does not sound like a mayor who is doing a good job,” said Stefano Forte, the 28-year-old president of the New York Young Republican Club. 

“He's in over his head.” he added. “The city is going to go downhill under his leadership, just like it did under Adams and (former Mayor Bill) de Blasio before him.”