Lessons for Campaigners from Zohran Mamdani’s Victory

Introduction

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City Mayoral race has inspired left wing campaigners around the world. Explore these resources to find out more about the campaign and its lessons.

Got great analysis to share? Let the Commons librarians know.

Read

“Organize, don’t despair!” — Lessons from Zohran Mamdani’s victory

Mar Garcia Sanz & Viktor Mák, European Center for Digital Action

Mamdani’s victory is a message to the world that the progressive movement can reclaim agency, build trust, and win even in the most unlikely places.

Mamdani’s campaign stood out for two intertwined reasons: authenticity and organization.

Inside the Zohran Mamdani Campaign: Lessons in Socialist Strategy and its Pressing Challenges

Özge Yaka, International Research Group on Authoritarianism and Counter-Strategies (IRGAC)

1. It is not about opposing authoritarianism; it is about offering an alternative
2. It is not about identity; it is about dignity
3. It is not about antagonizing the working-class people who voted for authoritarian leaders; it is about winning (some of) them back
4. It is not (only) about social media – it is about organizing an immense and diverse grassroots campaign

3 Marketing Lessons From Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign

Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes

Zohran Mamdani’s ascent offers three valuable lessons… It highlights a shift from TV advertising to social-first content, from polished campaigns to direct communication and from centralized control to community-powered movements.

5 Lessons from Zohran Mamdani’s Stunning NYC Victory

Jack Maycock, Shape History

1. Spell out the problem again and again and…
2. Culture wins hearts and changes minds
3. Take risks. What’s the worst that could happen?
4. Incremental change isn’t worth getting out of bed for
5. There’s only one Zohran Mamdani

Other takes:

• Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Figured Out How to Channel Fandom, Makena Kelly, Wired
• HKS Lecturer Advised Zohran Mamdani on Sustaining Momentum, Avoiding the ‘Obama Trap’, Interview with Marshall Ganz in The Harvard Crimson
• How I helped Zohran Mamdani turn 45,000 social media clicks into a real-life army of volunteers, Gabriella Zutrau, FWIW

Watch

Is Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign a Blueprint for Success?

Jen Hassum (Broadbent Institute) & Jeyan Jeganathan (The Rundown)

Zohran Mamdani vs The Machine

Fault Lines Documentary, Al Jazeera

Explore Further

• Fixing our Democracies and Winning Elections in the Age of Junk Politics: A Guide to Transformational Campaigning, Tectonica
• Election Campaign Skills
• Election Campaign Case Studies