Can Zohran Mamdani Fix New York’s Public Education?

Nivedita Majumdar

That’s a really important question, because it can never be just about the rise of one strong figure — no matter how exciting that may be. To make real progress on left-wing priorities, we need to build a political culture rooted in organized working-class power, grounded in unions and community organizations. When candidates are embedded in that kind of culture, they understand that their political future is tied to the power of those unions and organizations.

To some extent, we’re already seeing this play out with Mamdani’s candidacy. Contrary to what the New York Times and other mainstream media might suggest, he didn’t come out of nowhere. His emergence can be traced back to an energized Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in the wake of Bernie Sanders’s first presidential run. While Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remains the most well-known example of DSA’s electoral success, the organization also helped elect Mamdani and seven others to the New York State legislature.

In a detailed piece on NYC-DSA’s political and electoral work, Michael Thomas Carter rightly observes, “Over the past nine years, NYC-DSA has built a field organizing machine that is arguably the strongest electoral operation in municipal politics nationwide. Through wins and losses in local, state, and federal elections, NYC-DSA has learned strategic lessons, developed significant logistical capacity, created a volunteer base for canvassing and outreach, and nurtured a cadre of experienced electoral campaign workers who work on endorsed campaigns.”

It’s telling that in his application for DSA’s endorsement, Mamdani stated he would not run without the organization’s backing. While his powerful campaign focused on affordability and his personal charisma are undeniably important, the campaign could not have mobilized some sixty thousand volunteers to push him over the finish line without an active, organized base behind it.

Winning elections is necessary, but it clearly cannot be the end goal of left-wing politics; the objective is to implement our priorities. Which brings us back to your question of accountability: How do we hold politicians accountable once they’re in office? For that, we need a Left strong enough not just to help elect candidates, but more importantly, to help them carry out the platform on which they ran.

If Mamdani wins and tries to implement a rent freeze, for example, he’ll be up against very powerful interests. To succeed in the legislature, he’ll need an organizing campaign to push his agenda — in communities, in the press, and in the streets. For tasks like that, it’s not enough to be a strong electoral machine; you need real presence and grounding in your constituencies.

To implement a socialist program, we need class power — built primarily through labor unions, but also through campaigns and coalitions focused on working-class priorities like transportation, housing, and more. Ultimately, we need unions and organizations that not only run winning campaigns but are powerful enough to help their endorsed officeholders actually deliver on their agenda. That’s the real key to accountability.

Great Job Nivedita Majumdar & the Team @ Jacobin Source link for sharing this story.

#FROUSA #HillCountryNews #NewBraunfels #ComalCounty #LocalVoices #IndependentMedia

Felicia Ray Owens
Felicia Ray Owenshttps://feliciarayowens.com
Felicia Ray Owens is a media founder, cultural strategist, and civic advocate who creates platforms where power meets lived truth. As the voice behind C4: Coffee. Cocktails. Culture. Conversation and the founder of FROUSA Media, she uses storytelling, public dialogue, and organizing to spotlight the issues that matter most—locally and nationally. A longtime advocate for community wellness and political engagement, Felicia brings experience as a former Precinct Chair and former Chief Communications Officer of Indivisible Hill Country. Her work bridges culture, activism, and healing through curated spaces designed to inspire real change. Learn more at FROUSA.org

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