JONATHAN TURLEY: Why NYC's Zohran Mamdani looks more and more like a hardcore Marxist
Now, the debate rages over who Mamdani really is. Is he antisemitic or just pro-Palestinian? Is he anti-ICE or just pro-immigrant? However, one thing seems to be increasingly clear. Mamdani is a serious Marxist and that should concern anyone in New York City.
Recently, PolitiFact declared that it was "false" that Zohran Mamdani is a "communist." This was in response to President Donald Trump's calling him a "100% Communist Lunatic" on Truth Social. However, while we can quibble over whether the term "communist" is supported by past statements, it appears that Mamdani is likely a Marxist.
PolitiFact characterized the use of the label by Trump and others as a "red scare tactic that has existed in U.S. politics for decades." For those who are center-right in American politics, it may have seemed a tad ironic since conservatives and libertarians are routinely called "fascists" and the left has engaged in McCarthy-like tactics to blacklist and question the loyalty those with opposing views. That is rarely the subject of "fact checks."
I have repeatedly discussed the biased and sometimes false conclusions of PolitiFact (here, here, and here). On this occasion, PolitiFact may have once again been too quick on the trigger to denounce Trump and conservatives over the characterizations of Mamdani's political and economic views.
First, I have not joined those who have called Mamdani a "communist" as opposed to a "socialist" because these terms are interpreted in wildly different ways. For example, despite being a great critic of Mamdani and his views, I have not seen Mamdani advocating for single-party control over the political system or the complete centralization of the economy under government control.
However, it appears that Mamdani may be a Marxist, based on recently revealed comments he has made. In one speech before the Young Democratic Socialists of America conference, Mamdani even states matter-of-factly how one of the goals is to "seize the means of production" in America.
"Right now, if we're talking about the cancellation of student debt, if we're talking about Medicare for all, you know, these are issues which have the groundswell of popular support across this country. But then there are also other issues that we firmly believe in, whether it's BDS or whether it is the end goal of seizing the means of production, where we do not have the same level of support at this very moment."
That does not sound like soft socialism, but fairly hardcore Marxism. It also contradicts PolitiFact's statement that "Mamdani's platform is not akin to communism, a system of government which calls for government takeover of private property and control of industry."
To his credit, Mamdani is not denying that he opposes capitalism and wants to eliminate all billionaires. (He is not clear where millionaires might face their own cutoff for excessive wealth).
Mamdani is the perfect product of the extreme American left. He emerged from the Hollywood and academic environs where extreme views are all the rage. He is the son of Professor Mahmood Mamdani, a far-left professor, and Mira Nair, a liberal Indian-American filmmaker. His father teaches "post-colonial" subjects at Columbia University and is presently the director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda.
Mamdani is the prototype of what some of us have been writing about regarding the radicalization of higher education, particularly at America's elite colleges and universities. He graduated in 2014 from the elite Bowdoin College with a bachelor's degree in African studies. These schools are now largely devoid of conservative faculty members. Scholars generally run from the left to the far left.
Polls show increasing support among young people for socialism and even communism. Notably, Mamdani received significant support in the primary from wealthy and young college-educated voters.
To put it simply, it is cool to be socialist among generations who did not witness the economic failures of socialist systems in the 20th Century in countries like Great Britain and France. They did not witness former communist countries turning to capitalism to rescue their failing economies.
Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary was fueled by promises of free buses, free healthcare, free daycare, as well as city-run grocery stores. He even promised to "make Halal eight bucks again."
It is true that most countries, including the United States, have long embraced social welfare systems. It is also true that some programs once denounced as socialism are now considered mainstream. However, Mamdani's categorical opposition to capitalism and his references to seizing control of the means of production suggest more extreme Marxist views.
Mamdani has tried to downplay fears over his views after his victory, stating:
"When we talk about my politics, you know, I call myself a Democratic socialist in many ways inspired by the words of Dr. [Martin Luther] King from decades ago, who said, 'Call it democracy, call it Democratic-Socialism, there has to be a better distribution of wealth for all of God's children in this country.'"
It is hard to "call it Democratic-Socialism" when you are talking about seizing control of the means of production and opposing capitalism. It suggests that his vision of a "greater distribution of wealth" is far more radical than anything Dr. King was referencing.
Mamdani would not be the first child from an affluent, privileged background to embrace Marxism. In my forthcoming book, "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution," (Simon & Schuster, Feb.3, 2026) I examine how revolutionaries, from the French Revolution to contemporary movements, have often come from the elite or privileged classes. I discuss the current radicalization in the U.S. in exploring the future of American democracy in the 21st Century.
There is a full-court press to dismiss questions about Mamdani's philosophical views by many in the legacy media and academia. After all, as Mamdani noted that on "issues that we firmly believe in [like] the end goal of seizing the means of production... we do not have the same level of support at this very moment." That support is growing by maintaining a cocoon of ambiguity.
There is a good-faith debate about whether the existing record supports the claim that Mamdani is a communist. However, there is ample reason to suggest that he is a Marxist. That should be a matter of significant concern, particularly as the possible head of government in the world's greatest financial center.
Marx once said in frustration that "if anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist." Perhaps, but New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has all the makings of a hardcore Marxist.
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Time Magazine
14 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
How Mamdani Plans to Fix New York City's Housing Crisis
Zohran Mamdani, the official Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, ran his campaign largely on affordability, placing the New York City housing crisis at the center of his platform. A 2024 Marist Poll survey found that 73% of New York residents believe that housing affordability is a major problem in their communities. Hardly surprising, when you consider New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. 'It's also the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and yet, one in four New Yorkers are living in poverty, and the rest are seemingly trapped in a state of anxiety,' Mamdani said during a Meet the Press appearance on Sunday. 'We've seen that this is a city that needs to be affordable for the people who build it every day. Our focus was on exactly that, and by keeping that focus on an economic agenda, we showed New Yorkers that this could be more than just a museum of what [it] once was.' Mamdani—who will face off against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent—has argued in his campaign videos that his housing-focused policies 'could be the difference between you having to move to Jersey City and getting to stay in the five boroughs.' Rachel Fee, executive director of the New York Housing Conference (NYHC), says that Mamdani's popularity is a testament to how New Yorkers, especially working class New Yorkers, are struggling with rising prices. 'New Yorkers are fed up with sky-high rents and lack of housing choice. And home ownership these days seems like a dream to achieve in another state,' says Fee. 'It deserves the focus of the next Mayor. And I think New Yorkers seem very willing to try something different.' As Mamdani ramps up his campaigning efforts, here are some of the core tenets of his plan to fix New York City's housing crisis. Read More: Zohran Mamdani Delivers Decisive Victory in NYC Primary as His Ascension Sets Off a Political Earthquake 'Freeze the rent' A policy-turned-rallying cry of Mamdani's candidacy has been his calls to 'freeze the rent.' This has become all the more central as the N.Y.C. Rent Guidelines Board on Monday voted for a 4.5% increase for two-year leases and a 3% hike for one-year leases. The Rent Guidelines Board, which sets the annual rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments, is appointed by the Mayor, and Mamdani has said he would only appoint members of the board who will work with him to freeze the rent. Roughly 70% of New York City residents are renters, and around half of them live in rent-stabilized apartments, according to 2024 data from the NYC Comptroller, and so these price decisions affect many. New York City's Mayor Adams released a statement stating he was disappointed in the board for not adopting 'the lowest increase possible' in rent, as he requested. But he also argued that calls to 'freeze the rent' amount to 'bad policy,' saying it's 'short-sighted and only puts tenants in harm's way.' Mamdani has cited former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio in his pledge to 'immediately' freeze the rent, stating that the former Mayor 'actually did this three times' during his tenure—in 2015, 2016, and 2020. The mayoral hopeful has also said he will advocate to expand rent stabilization in Albany, the capital city of New York State. Read More: 'We Will Not Accept This Intimidation': Zohran Mamdani Responds to Trump's Arrest Threat A recommitment to public housing and building affordable housing Mamdani has pledged a recommitment to public housing, saying he'll 'double the money we're spending to preserve public housing, and fully fund and staff our city's housing agencies so we can actually get the work done.' Meanwhile, housing experts have argued that a large part of the crisis, both in New York City and nationally, is the lack of supply for affordable housing. There are many reasons for this, including that the annual turnover rate for New York City rental units is 41% lower than the national average, due to limited mobility, overcrowding, and outmigration, according to the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC). Mamdani plans to address housing shortages by constructing 200,000 new units over the next 10 years. He says these units will be 'permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes.' He has pledged $100 billion to this effort, funded by his plan to tax the top 1% of New Yorkers to help pay for his ambitious efforts, through city municipal bonds and by activating city-owned land. He hopes to increase zoning for residential buildings and massively increase public spending of housing. Between 2010 and 2020, New York City added just over 185,000 multi-family units in buildings with four or more homes, according to the NYU Furman Center, and only about 30% of those were affordable to low-income households. Mamdani has also he is looking to expand other affordable housing efforts including the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development's (HPD) Senior Affordable Rental Apartments, which produces 100% affordable low-income housing for seniors and HPD's Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability, which produces 100% affordable housing for families who earn less than $72,000 for a family of four. He's also keen to build upon the New York City Human Resources Administration's Master Lease Program, which helps create subsidized housing for families at risk of eviction. According to Fee, many of these issues have already been in the works with the city of New York, but Mamdani's focus hopes to scale them up. But 'the Mayor cannot do it alone,' Fee says, adding there will need to be 'some smart politics and some coalition building' at the City Council and in the state's capital of Albany to change zoning, public spending, and allocate funds to these initiatives. Fee also says neglecting the potential of the private sector to help fund these efforts would be a 'mistake.' 'These are things that the city government has been doing, and I think he wants to bring some of them to scale. Whether they are politically achievable… I think that will really test him as a politician,' Fee argues. Creating a Deed Theft Prevention Office Mamdani is also vying to create a new office that works to 'protect homeowners from scam artists' that attempt to steal deeds, an issue that has specifically affected immigrant communities and Black and Latino neighborhoods in New York. Deed theft occurs when someone takes over the title of a home without the approval or knowledge of the true homeowner. 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CBS News
26 minutes ago
- CBS News
Rev. Al Sharpton urges Andrew Cuomo to abandon run for New York City mayor. Here's why.
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Fox News
27 minutes ago
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Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans 'Project 2029' while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primary
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Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, confirmed they spoke with Mamdani but have continued to hold their endorsements. Aside from his socialist promises and anti-capitalist comments, much of establishment Democrats' discontent with Mamdani is rooted in accusations that he is antisemitic. Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., said last week that Mamdani is "too extreme to lead New York City." She said he has demonstrated a "deeply disturbing pattern of unacceptable antisemitic comments, which stoke hate at a time when antisemitism is rising." Another New York Democrat, Rep. Tom Suozzi said last week he still has "serious concerns" about Mamdani. The crux of accusations that Mamdani is antisemitic stems from his refusal to condemn the rallying cry, "globalize the intifada." Mamdani has refused to condemn the term, which has been adopted by pro-Palestinian protesters resisting the war in Gaza and, according to the American Jewish Committee, "calls for people from around the globe to participate in rising up against Israel." Mamdani, who would become New York City's first Muslim mayor if elected in November, has said he doesn't support policing language. In multiple interviews since he initially sparked controversy on the campaign trail, he has refused to condemn the language. He has also drawn criticism from Jewish New Yorkers, pro-Israel groups and Democrats for defending the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which calls for consumers, companies and governments to cut ties with Israel in an effort to influence the country's policies toward Palestinians. Mamdani refused to acknowledge, when asked repeatedly on the debate stage, that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. Instead, he said that Israel has the right to exist as "a state with equal rights." On Oct. 13, 2023, six days after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, Mamdani asked his supporters to join him at a rally outside Schumer's house "to speak out against the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians as we sit on the brink of a genocide." However, despite the criticism, Mamdani has repeatedly condemned antisemitism. "Antisemitism is such a real issue in this city, and it has been hard to see it weaponized by candidates who do not seem to have any real interest in tackling it, but rather in using it as a pretext to make political points," he said on the campaign trail ahead of Election Day. Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
