New York City’s young Democrats want to put the party back in party

There was a little over a week to go until the New York City election, where a millennial was on the cusp of making history as the city’s youngest mayor in over a century. Halloween loomed, and the New York Young Republicans had just been embroiled in scandal. Of course the city’s young Democrats were itching to throw a party.

“Putting the party back in party” was the very premise that brought a couple hundred of the city’s most politically engaged 20- and early 30-somethings together at a hip loft in Chinatown late last month. While Manhattan Young Democrats had come up with the idea, leaders of the Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx chapters had been eager to help, rallying attendees from across the city.

There would be no stiff speeches or panels. No peacocking over resumes or flush political gigs. 

It was to be a night of unity as the national Democratic party struggles with trust, part rallying cry against the Trump administration, part celebration of mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, part fundraiser, part bringing new people into the fold – and hopefully, keeping them there. Youth turnout soared in the Democratic primary, with many young voters participating in a local election for the first time, but other battles remained. 

“We have to keep this energy up and the only way we can do that is if we really love each other and we really trust each other,” said Courtney Curd, Manhattan Young Democrats communications director. Her long blue acrylic nails gleamed as she moved her hands animatedly. Each nail was crowned with a single blocky letter, thick and eyecatching: “V-O-T-E B-L-U-E.” “That comes through friendship,” she said.

The idea to throw a huge party was born in January after New York magazine published a cover story centering on a lavish bash thrown by young Trump supporters. The cover image from “The Cruel Kids’ Table”, a shot of jubilant partygoers clad in suits and gowns, spread far and wide, spurring conversation about what political party is steering mainstream culture in the U.S. right now. “They can’t win the culture game,” Curd said. “They can’t be cooler than us, they're racist – like what the hell?” “We’re entering our hater era,” she later quipped, referencing the lone non-Mamdani-related shirt for sale. “All my homies hate New York Young Republicans,” it read.

This was no glitzy gala with flutes of champagne, valet, coat check, plated meals and an open bar. This was a proper loft party in a vibey, sprawling new space in Chinatown called The Bench. Founder Michka Bengio described it as a place where politics and culture meet – or as the website puts it, “a place for those who give a f*ck.” Bartenders served drinks in plastic cups. Paper gift bags contained a ring pop and QR codes directing guests to register to vote and join their local chapter of young Dems. And a single, cramped elevator diligently made trip after trip, ferrying partygoers waiting on Elizabeth Street inside. “Builds anticipation though,” one woman remarked somewhere between the third and fourth floor as the elevator ascended at a crawling pace. The music grew steadily louder. “Did you vote yet?” someone whispered from the other side of the elevator.

Inside, the mood was buoyant and the music booming. A disco ball tossed glittering sparkles across the walls as guests congregated for the only organized act of the night: a surprise drag performance that culminated with a dance competition set to an Ariana Grande mashup. Partygoers’ attire ranged dramatically, the sea of varying shades of blue the most unifying thing. There were t-shirts, jeans, silk slips, battered jean jackets, striped polos and rugby shirts, party dresses, and lots of denim. A few people wore halloween costumes. Staten Island college student Alesio Bejleri lugged around a limited edition street sign with the phrase “leaving Brooklyn, fuhgeddaboudit.” 

“A lot of people, young Dems, feel a need to put on a suit,” said Shakee J. Merritt, deputy political director of Manhattan Young Democrats. “We really wanted people to come and be themselves. Come in a color, but wear whatever outfit you feel comfortable in.” (Several attendees did indeed still wear suits.) 

“In these settings it’s a lot easier to bring people in and introduce them to new folks so that when they do fully join and get involved in our young Dems movement, they don’t feel ostracized or like an outsider,” said Sorena Fabre, president of Queens County Young Democrats.

While Mamdani himself did not make an appearance, he hung ever-present across the evening. Campaign merch – pins, hats, tote bags, signage and shirts – bobbed about the space.  When asked what they thought was the most exciting thing happening in politics right now – local and beyond – most attendees pointed to the 34-year-old democratic socialist. It was inspiring, many said. In less than a year, Mamdani had gone from a relatively unknown, longshot candidate in the primary to the race’s dominant front-runner. And his campaign had energized young people in unprecedented droves. New Yorkers between the ages of 18 and 29 had the highest turnout of any age group in the Democratic primary, at about 35% – roughly double their turnout in 2021.

Harlem Assembly Member Jordan Wright, son of Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright, said this election is the first time that he’s seen other young people as excited as he is about politics. “It has something to do with the Democratic nominee for mayor right now, it has a lot to do with the access everyone has to local government and local politics,” he said. “Beyond everything else, it has a lot to do with enthusiasm – and everyone understanding that the political process is how we get things done.”

“It’s an enormous opportunity for progressives to prove their ability to govern, to reshape the electorate,” said Andrea Gordillo, the chair of Community Board 3 and a recent lower Manhattan City Council candidate. 

“Turnout was really, really high, that’s great,” said Assembly Member Alex Bores. “Let’s keep that going.”

As the evening stretched into night, the music grew louder and people descended onto the dance floor. Partygoers fished packets of oreos from a cavernous silver bucket, as empty cups collected on side tables and the bar top, contact information was exchanged and plans were made for future political organizing – and for where to go next so the night could continue.

“Democrats are still here, and we still need to live normal lives,” said Tyreke Israel, president of Bronx Young Democrats. “We can still have fun in this time of chaos.”

A little over a week after the party, early voting ended with a colossal bang. More than 735,000 New Yorkers had cast their ballots – the highest early in-person turnout ever for a non-presidential election in the city. Young voters under the age of 35 in particular came out in droves on Sunday. Election Day had at last arrived. For party organizers, all of it was a good sign. 

“This is really exciting,” Curd said. “It’s something I’m hoping we can continue to capitalize on and why Zohran is such an inspiration and leader in this moment.”