I have a very problematic record when it comes to political predictions, but that won’t deter me from making another one. And it is this: the election of Zorhan Mamdani, an unabashed democratic socialist to lead the most populous city in the country, brings the conversation about socialism and socialist candidates into the public square in an altogther new way.
Moreover, the substance of that conversation in general and the election prospects of socialist candidates across the country in particular will depend to a degree on the skillfulness and successes of Mamdani and his administration. In other words, his successes will redound positively to the image of socialism and socialists, while his missteps and failures will do the opposite.
