Mamdani is now a PROVEN king maker

[MakeThemCry]

What excuse will the Establishment media come up w/today?

They'll start w/'this can only work in NYC", then they'll shift to "something, something, something not good for the generals."

Personally, I'm over the moon. Let's keep this momentum going baby.

Platner, you're up next!

[RandySF]

1. Outside of NYC?

[lapucelle]

10. It will be interesting to see exactly which one of these seats Mamdani will run for when his term as mayor is over.

Mamdani is personally wealthy enough to settle down on the UWS, the UES, in lower Manhattan, or in gentrified Brooklyn. That would put him up against Lander or Lasher for a congressional seat.

Should Mamdani choose to return to his rent stabilized apartment in Queens, that would put him up against AOC, who declined to endorse in any of the NYC primaries.

As Rachel Maddow would say, watch this space.

[QueerDuck]

2. Labeling anyone a single "kingmaker" completely diminishes the incredible work of the candidates themselves...

Labeling anyone a single "kingmaker" completely diminishes the incredible work of the candidates themselves, their staff, and the volunteers who knocked on doors. --- Did Mamdani's endorsement provide a helpful signal to progressive voters? Sure. But he didn't cast the ballots.

These weren't easy, standard races where an endorsement just rubber-stamps an obvious winner—they were tough, hard-fought campaigns. These candidates won because they ran aggressive, disciplined grassroots operations that tapped into real voter dissatisfaction.

Why would anyone want to reduce a complex, organized movement down to one guy playing kingmaker? The credit actually belongs to the people who ran and the voters who showed up.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. Yeah, but that isn't 'Hollywood' enough for the general population. (n/t)

[QueerDuck]

12. Hollywood...good analogy. Biblical might work too. I prefer hard work, smart strategy, & less reliance on "saviors".

[Emile]

3. They all ready started, lol.

[RandySF]

4. While the DSA cleaned up in NYC

a moderate former mayor took 60% against a field of progressive (including one endorsed by Bernie) in Salt Lake City. A moderate combat vet was nominated in the NY 17th. A Chevalier would not beat a Republican in Nassau or Putnam.

[Lonestarblue]

5. This was good news for New York. I think voters are ready for a new generation and a new philosophy.

[democrank]

6. We already have a "king" and don't need another one.

Credit should go to the hard-working candidates, their home-hitting messages and the volunteers.

I believe our country is preparing for change….not just a new leader, but a very new way of being.

[3_Limes]

7. Not sure one day qualifies him for "kingmaker".

Let's give this a minute, shall we?

[Celerity]

13. The OP is not the only one using that description (FWIW)

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/nyregion/mamdani-politics-influence.html



Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his allies swept a series of congressional primaries in New York City on Tuesday in a remarkable show of strength for the insurgent left that sent shock waves through the Democratic Party.

Mr. Mamdani’s candidates toppled a pair of incumbents backed by the city’s political establishment, including major labor unions and the House Democratic leader. Another candidate backed by the mayor won an open House seat, and a handful of democratic socialist challengers he supported were winning down the ballot.

For months, Mr. Mamdani threw himself and his energized political organization into the three marquee congressional contests, campaigning late into the night in the race’s final days and calling the election a referendum on the direction of the party.

All the winning candidates share Mr. Mamdani’s progressive economic platform, and they each ran campaigns that focused intently on ending American support for Israel, a sign of how far public opinion has shifted on the issue, even in New York.

snip

[QueerDuck]

17. Tu Quoque Variation. Argumentum ad Populum. And of course my favorite...

... Argumentum ad Verecundiam. But, whatever.

[Celerity]

18. Your examples only apply to someone actually making an logical argument or claim. I was only pointing out

another example (thus my use of 'FWIW' in my reply) of the term being employed in re Mamdani.

Also, as I type this, MS Now has also used the term twice (by two different people) a few seconds ago, again FWIW.

But you do you.

[QueerDuck]

20. Sure.

[MakeThemCry]

23. The voters, particularly in Chevalier 's case

Said that they supported her because of Mamdani.

If that isn't kingmaker, then I don't know what that is.

Mamdani has rejuvenated the Democratic Party.

Give him his props, he deserves it.

[JT45242]

8. Others attributing this to stance on Gaza and the genocide... complicated

Unless we get really clear exit polling results, it will be hard to draw any conclusions.

Remember that all politics are local.

Not sure what to read of primary elections in general as they tell you about the most passionate voters who are in a party. Usually, the unaffiliated independent voters swing the election.

[orangecrush]

11. K&R

[3Hotdogs]

14. T'aint nuthin.- - N.J. - We got one of them Socialist Democrats in Congress. And in my district.

Anatolia Mejia was elected in a special election in February.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. A "king maker" is crucial to the rise of someone *more powerful than themselves*

You might claim that a House representative is more powerful than the Mayor of New York City, but I think most would disagree.

The more appropriate political cliche here is "he has strong coattails".

[mvd]

16. So happy to see

I can’t remember a better mayor there than Mamdani. As long as the candidates can win, and they will, this is great news.

[FascismIsDeath]

19. "Kingmaker" is an embarrassing, cringe worthy term.

[Raven123]

21. Nonsense.

A recently elected popular mayor endorses candidates in specific races in areas where he is popular. They win. Not a surprise.

[Autumn]

22. I don't know that he's a "king maker" (silly term) but he's pretty fucking amazing.

He seems to have big coat tails in NY and a lot of people not in NY are sure taking notice and paying attention.

[karynnj]

24. Although Mamdani deserves credit, I think it is a values shift

that was also partly responsible for his own win. (helped of course by the corruption of Adams and the sleaziness of Cuomo)

Someone like Mamdani can bring people to consider a candidate, but the candidate has to make the actual "sale".

It seems that urban centers are moving to democratic socialists. Living in Burlington, Vermont, I remember a rabbi mentioning that Bernie Sanders, a good friend of his, should mention FDR rather than Denmark, Sweden etc.

With affordability being an ever larger issue for all but the top 1 percent, we could, especially in the high cost cities, be in somewhat similar times to the times when FDR and his people worked to create a safety net for vulnerable people.

It may be that people like Mamdani are a revision back to the policies of FDR.