Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor-elect of New York City, who recently beat former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani is a democratic socialist, with a platform based on making New York affordable. Zack Polanski, newly elected Leader of the Green Party in the UK, ran on a similarly leftist platform. Last month, Polanski’s win put the Greens ahead of Labour in an opinion poll for the first time ever. Their campaigns were successful because of their support for minority communities and focus on affordability.
Migration is our DNA as a country, it is our superpower.
Mamdani used his identity as a galvanising force during his campaign to support minority communities. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, he’s extremely proud of his heritage as an immigrant. He faced intense Islamophobia during and after his campaign, and admirably “refuses to apologise” for his faith. He released campaign videos not only in English, but in Urdu, Hindi, Spanish, and Arabic, and championed the over 3 million immigrants who live in New York.
Polanski holds the same stance, prioritising solidarity with minority communities. As a gay Jewish man, he is no stranger to bigotry, and wrote an article addressing the “relentless nastiness” he has been subjected to, proving his commitment to transparency. In another article for the Guardian, he writes, “migration is our DNA as a country, it is our superpower,” a fervent statement of support, especially while Reform and right-wing, anti-immigration rhetoric gain traction across the country.
Mamdani and Polanski are ushering in a new generation of politicians who are not only leftist in name, but truly care about supporting the working class.
Both politicians refuse to allow immigrants to be the scapegoats for their respective constituencies’ troubles. They instead want to fix the drastic class disparity and wealth inequality leading to the cost-of-living crises. One of Mamdani’s main proposals is a rent-freeze, and with a quarter of New Yorkers living in poverty, this would hugely benefit anyone who is financially struggling. He also advocates for lowering the cost of childcare and free buses in the city, demonstrating true commitment to affordability in what is notoriously one of the most expensive cities in the world.
In the UK, ¾ of people polled support Polanski’s proposed wealth tax, showing a global frustration with the government’s catering to the elite. Polanski wants to end the “rip-off privatisation” of UK industry, with bringing water into public ownership. Similarly to Mamdani, he supports rent control and universal free childcare.
Mamdani and Polanski are ushering in a new generation of politicians who are not only leftist in name, but truly care about supporting the working class. Their love for immigrant and other minority communities – while the right is gaining ground – is a political breath of fresh air to many.
