Brad Lander on Mamdani's Win: "It’s not only on Zohran. It’s on all of us."
In an op-ed for In These Times, Lander writes that in response to looming threats from Donald Trump, “We’ve got to rise to the challenge together—as New Yorkers.”
Brad Lander
On Tuesday night, New Yorkers elected Zohran Mamdani to be our 111th Mayor — our first immigrant mayor in generations, and the first Muslim mayor in our city’s history.
“In this moment of political darkness,” Zohran said on Election Night, “New York will be the light.” He lit the match — but it’s on all of us to make it shine brightly.
Zohran ran an inspired and inspiring campaign that came out of nowhere and stunned people with its momentum. I should know, because I was one of the progressive candidates running against him in the Democratic primary, before cross-endorsing him in June, and joining the powerful coalition he built.
Voters were compelled by his laser focus on affordability. And they were inspired by his vision of a city where everyone belongs, where the full diversity of New Yorkers can live in dignity, instead of constant struggle.
Andrew Cuomo, on the other hand, ran a sour, selfish, fear-mongering campaign, which exacerbated tensions and divisions in New York City. He worked hard to weaponize antisemitism, exploiting the fears of Jewish New Yorkers — even as Zohran worked hard to reach out and listen to those fears. He attended Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services with me, and did literally dozens of meetings with rabbis and Jewish leaders to patiently listen to our fears and reassure us that he will keep Jewish New Yorkers, and all New Yorkers safe.
In the waning days of the race, Cuomo veered fully into Islamophobia and AI dystopia, amping up fear and hate. And over the final 36 hours, Cuomo’s twisted campaign was endorsed by Donald Trump, Stephen Miller and Elon Musk — making the lines, and the stakes, very clear.
Thankfully, New Yorkers can finally say good riddance to Andrew Cuomo. Now, we have to work together to heal the divides he inflamed, to win the more affordable city that Zohran ran on, and to stand up together to the five-alarm fire of Donald Trump’s fascism.
As he prepares to enter City Hall in January, Zohran is putting a great governing team together to deliver on the commitments he’s made, starting with four talented, experienced and visionary women of color
(including Joe Biden’s bold and renowned Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan) to chair his transition committee. That’s critical for him to stand up an administration that can pick up the garbage, manage the crises that will start coming on day one, and achieve a rent freeze, fast and free buses, and universal child care. To show that progressives can deliver.
And as he promised on Election Night, he’ll need to keep reaching out to New Yorkers who did not vote for him — to show that he will be a mayor for all New Yorkers.
But it’s not only on Zohran. It’s on all of us.
When Donald Trump sends troops here, it won’t be “Donald Trump versus Zohran Mamdani.” It will be “Donald Trump versus New York City.” And we’ve got to rise to the challenge together — as New Yorkers.
In Portland, they’ve deployed cartoon frogs and naked bike riders. In Chicago and L.A., volunteer patrols to keep neighbors safe block by block. In New York City so far, it’s been accompanying our neighbors at 26 Federal Plaza. Now, we’re also forming neighborhood watch and mutual aid groups. The incoming Mamdani Administration will team up with Attorney General Tish James to bring legal firepower. And we’ll need some joyful forms of resistance, too. Maybe “outdoor dining against Trump” to feature the ways our diversity and creativity are our superpower (and to remind us that “we have friends everywhere”).
“To get to any of us,” Zohran told Trump squarely on Election Night, “you’ll have to get through all of us.”
In his Election Night speech, he lifted up the stories of New Yorkers who have long been left out. Yemeni bodega owners and Mexican abuelas. Senegalese taxi drivers and Uzbek nurses. Trinidadian line cooks and Ethiopian aunties. All have a role to play.
Jews and Muslims have a role to play. In the wake of this divisive race, what would it look like for us to refuse to be divided? To recognize that our safety, our freedom, our thriving are bound up together — in the five boroughs of New York City, and in Israel and Palestine as well.
Business leaders have a role to play. Zohran has shown openness to partnership, by committing to ask NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay on board, and signaling eagerness to work together on new housing construction. Meanwhile, Trump’s attacks on New York City, including seeking to cut billions of dollars from key infrastructure projects, would do severe damage to our economy. We look forward to joining in partnership to show that New York is united.
New Yorkers from all five boroughs, from every background, Black, Latino, white and Asian, immigrant and here-for-generations, LGBTQ and straight, those who voted for Zohran and those who didn’t, all have a role to play.
“In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light.”
If we get it right, when the history books are written, they could read: “Trump’s downfall began when he launched his assault on New York City in the days after Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. New Yorkers, together, showed who they were, showed what it means to wake up everyday with that copper-plated statue in the harbor — and relit the lamp of liberty for the whole world to see.”
