Authenticity is everything
Mamdani’s win this week is showing Democrats a path forward on both style and substance. Will they take it?
On Tuesday night, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic state assemblyman, surprised most political observers by winning the New York City mayoral Democratic primary with a stronger-than-expected showing. He beat disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a tired leader whom the Democratic establishment once again attempted to force upon its voters and hoped they would just hold their noses and support.
Mamdani ran a joyful campaign, filled with easy-to-articulate policy positions (Freeze the rent! Free city buses!), and a go-everywhere social media strategy that was unprecedented in politics. Meanwhile, Cuomo grimaced his way through the campaign, with his team and advisors taking their name recognition for granted. “Cuomo never made a case for himself beyond name recognition and experience,” one progressive strategist wrote on Substack. “Voters couldn’t tell you what he’d actually do in office because he didn’t really care to tell them.”
There have been so many long-form takes (dozens!) published on Mamdani’s victory already and what it means for the future of the anti-MAGA opposition. There will no doubt be many more. (And, keep in mind, the general election still isn’t until November.) But this opinion piece from Rebecca Katz in the New York Times on Wednesday really resonated:
“I’m not saying Democrats should try to run candidates exactly like Mr. Mamdani everywhere. That’s not going to work for a lot of reasons.
But I am begging Democrats to embrace candidates who can authentically speak to the electorate they’re running to represent, whether they’re in red, blue, urban or rural areas. And we should not be so quick to squash exciting candidates just because they seem risky, look different or challenge the status quo. Sometimes we have to try new things.
And when we do find candidates who resonate, we should welcome them into our tent — and try to figure out how they do it.”
Americans are demanding new leadership that speaks to them authentically, means what they say, gives them hope, and most importantly, actually has a clear vision for the future to improve people’s lives. That doesn’t mean voters are demanding made-for-TikTok millennial socialist candidates in every municipality and congressional district. Instead, they just want to be reached by honest leaders on the platforms and in the places where they spend their time, with the will to fight fascism and the promotion of solutions that speak directly to their top concerns and needs.
Voters of all ages and political leanings are tired of being handed candidates who feel like relics of a bygone era or placeholders for party machinery. They want non-corrupt leaders who listen, communicate clearly, and actually care about the issues that shape daily life.
If Democrats want to build a lasting majority, they should take note: the path forward isn’t paved with nostalgia or safe bets, but with candidates who aren’t afraid to show up as themselves in the spaces voters are spending their time and offer real solutions in clear terms. The question isn’t whether Democrats can adapt to this new reality - it’s whether they’re willing to. In the vein of walking the talk, I said a lot of this in a recent Instagram video here I’d be grateful for those of you on the platform to share.
Have a restful weekend,
Tara
More from COURIER:
As Virginia’s off-year gubernatorial and legislative elections are beginning to heat up, our team on the ground at The Dogwood are reaching audiences in the state with social-first content to equip them with the news they need to know about the issues and candidates. Check out this video featuring a candidate in a battleground state assembly district, or this explainer on Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s biography.
Our national team hosted a great happy hour event in DC last night, featuring several new contributors and voices we’ve added to our lineup. Those include Akilah Hughes, Ryan Broderick, and Ashley Ray. Thanks to the few hundred of you all who joined us!
What I’m reading this week:
Life on the other side: Refugees from ‘old media’ flock to the promise of working for themselves (AP, 6/24)
“YouTube, Substack, TikTok and others are spearheading a full-scale democratization of media and a generation of new voices and influencers. But don’t forget the traditionalists. Rubin’s experience shows how this world offers a lifeline to many at struggling legacy outlets who wanted — or were forced — to strike out on their own.”
Few Americans pay for news when they encounter paywalls (Pew, 6/24)
“The vast majority of Americans (83%) say they have not paid for news in the past year, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March. Another 17% say they have directly paid or given money to a news source by subscribing, donating or becoming a member during that time.”
Right-Wingers Are Losing Their Minds Over Zohran’s Win (Rolling Stone, 6/25)
“Zohran Mamdani shocked the political establishment on Tuesday as he won New York City’s mayoral primary. Conservatives are not taking it well.”
Leaked Spotify Deck Reveals Big Video Push — and Raid on YouTube (The Ankler, 6/25)
“Spotify appears to be ramping up its efforts to grow its library of non-podcast video content. In a pitch deck circulating around town that I got my hands on, Spotify declares in bold letters, “We invite you to bring your video to Spotify” with zero mention of podcasts…Spotify is leaning into this video content because that’s what audiences are indicating they want. The company disclosed last year that it saw a 44 percent year-over-year increase in time spent watching videos. And more than 70 percent of Spotify users have watched video in the foreground of their screen (meaning it’s the primary open window on their device).”