When Performative Politics Replace Principles: The Rise of Zohran Mamdani and the Fall of Democratic Messaging

The recent political rise of Zohran Mamdani should alarm anyone who still believes in responsible governance, democratic values, and basic moral clarity.

Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, represents a dangerous shift in New York City politics — and perhaps American politics more broadly. He has openly called to defund the police, abolish prisons, and dismantle ICE — positions that would undermine law, safety, and justice in a city already reeling from rising crime and instability.

Mamdani’s ascendance is not a sign of progress — it is a symptom of a political ecosystem that has lost control of its messaging, especially within the Democratic Party. This is not just about his radical policies. It’s about what his rhetoric signals.

Mamdani has a deeply troubling record of antisemitic statements, including his refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada” — a call that glorifies violence and terror. Worse still, he once outrageously compared that slogan to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, drawing an offensive and historically illiterate parallel between Jewish Holocaust resistance fighters and modern-day terrorist movements.

At a time when antisemitism is at record highs, Mamdani is not just out of step — he’s fanning the flames of hatred. And yet, rather than reject these radical stances, prominent Democrats have congratulated him. Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries offered public praise for Mamdani’s win — carefully avoiding full endorsements, but unmistakably signaling approval. Is this the new face of the Democratic Party? Do they now tacitly accept Mamdani’s vision of a city with no police, no prisons, no borders — and no Jewish state?

This isn’t progressivism. This is ideological extremism dressed up in slick TikTok clips and empty slogans. Mamdani may be skilled in digital storytelling and social media performance, but governing New York City requires more than charisma. It demands experience, competence, and the ability to manage the largest police department and fire department in the nation, as well as an economy that supports more than 8 million people. Mamdani has shown none of that.

His popularity stems not from viable policy, but from his ability to tap into widespread dissatisfaction, especially among young and marginalized voters who feel ignored by traditional politicians. He has cloaked his campaign in the language of revolution and representation — but beneath the surface is a political movement that offers no economic strategy, no solutions for crime or infrastructure, and no respect for historical truth or civic unity.

His socialism isn’t even the benign idealism of yesteryear — it’s a radical rejection of Western liberal democracy itself. Ask anyone who has fled socialism — Cuban dissidents, Soviet refugees, or Venezuelan exiles — and they will tell you: socialism may start with slogans, but it ends with broken economies, silenced voices, the murder of those who dissent, and collapsed societies.

The Democratic Party has failed to draw a clear moral and political line. It has lost control of its message, allowing extremists like Mamdani to become the loudest voices in the room. Instead of offering real solutions, they peddle emotional sloganeering, elevate performative radicals, and ignore the concerns of working-class, law-abiding citizens.

The Republican Party, meanwhile, has struggled to connect with urban voters or effectively counter this narrative. But the failure of one party does not excuse the collapse of another. America’s cities — and our democracy — deserve better than this binary of dysfunction.

If Democrats truly care about reclaiming their mantle as defenders of civil rights, public safety, and inclusive governance, they must distance themselves from figures like Zohran Mamdani. They must reject the romanticization of radicalism and return to a politics rooted in reality, responsibility, and respect for all communities — including Jewish Americans.

New York City is not a socialist experiment. It is a beacon of pluralism, culture, and resilience. We cannot allow it to be led by someone who believes in globalizing violent uprisings rather than building inclusive solutions. Those who yell into microphones and only get emotional when the cameras are on are not to be trusted — history has taught us that. Leadership requires more than performative outrage — it requires vision, empathy, the desire to unify communities, and the courage to fight bigotry instead of nourishing it.

Yuval David is an Emmy and Multi-Award-Winning Actor, Filmmaker, Journalist, and Jewish LGBTQ+ activist and advisor. A creative and compelling storyteller, on stage and screen, news and across social media, Yuval shares the narrative of Jewish activism and enduring hope. Follow him on Instagram, YouTube, and X.

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