With viral videos and buzzy spots, Zohran Mamdani crafts a Democratic blueprint

One of Zohran Mamdani’s rivals during a New York City mayoral primary debate, trying to paint him as too inexperienced for the job of mayor, dismissed his rise in the polls with a quip.

One of Zohran Mamdani’s rivals during a New York City mayoral primary debate, trying to paint him as too inexperienced for the job of mayor, dismissed his rise in the polls with a quip. “I regret not running for mayor in 2021,” said the rival, state Sen. Jessica Ramos. “I had been in the Senate for two years. I’d already passed over a dozen bills. I thought I needed more experience.” “But turns out you just need to make good videos,” Ramos concluded. Ramos might have had a point. Mamdani was on the cusp of a remarkable result in Tuesday’s mayoral primary, with his chief rival, Andrew Cuomo, conceding the race. Through creative, visually striking advertisements, buzzy public appearances, and new media guest spots, the 33-year old state assemblyman went from nearly unknown outside of New York City to a new national face of progressive challengers to both President Donald Trump and the Democratic establishment. The videos Mamdani produced and posted on social media drew widespread interest from strategists and talk that they could be a model for Democrats worried they are losing the battle for younger voters online.