Phelim McAleer: ​Why Zohran Mamdani as New York mayor would be a historic disaster for the Democrats

Enter Zohran Mamdani, the official candidate for the Democratic Party, who's sprinting toward the mayor's office in the 2025 race. In fact, by the time you read this he could be the mayor elect.

This is a historic moment - a radical leftist grabbing the reins of America's economic powerhouse. But for the Democratic Party? It's likely to be a historic disaster that could condemn them to the electoral wilderness for years.

Mamdani is the poster child for the party's sharp left turn, endorsed by fellow socialists and pushing policies that scream revolution rather than reform. As the race heats up, it's clear the radicals are calling the shots in the Democratic Party, sidelining the centrists who once kept them grounded and most importantly electable in the rest of America.

So, what's in Mamdani's policy goodie bag? It’s full of failed policies from every failed economy on the planet, many dating back decades. Who says young people don’t like history?

Mamdani says he will bring in a 'Rent Revolution’ promising to freeze rents for four years and seize the property of "bad landlords". Many New York landlords are Jewish so along with being a crazy way to supply the demand for rentals this policy has some unfortunate historical resonances for New York's first Muslim mayor.

And he has some form there. Mamdani has been a pro-Palestinian activist since college, where he kickstarted a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. Recently, he dodged condemning the phrase "globalize the intifada". So nothing to worry about there for New Yorks substantial Jewish community.

And in a throwback to the good old days of Soviet Russia and Eastern Europe, Mamdani wants to introduce government-run grocery stores claiming he will slash prices by ditching the need for profits, and paying no rent or taxes. History has shown that doing away with the need for profits comes as an empty promise that leads to empty shelves.

He also wants to abolish bus fares but doesn’t say where the money will come from to run the service.

And of course Mamdani is big on "Trump-Proofing NYC", beefing up protections for illegal immigrants – even the criminal ones. The current mayor has been trying to crack down on the criminal gangs that have recently descended on New York and is fighting a losing battle. I spent two months there recently and there is a heavy, menacing atmosphere that is reminiscent of the bad old days in the 1980s. The city needs more police, not less as Mamdani is also proposing.

This all panders perfectly to NYC's young, immigrant-heavy, blue-haired crowd, who lap up the anti-Trump rhetoric and social justice ramblings.

But zoom out, and it's a flashing neon sign that the Democrats are letting radicals take over their party. Mainstream America? Not so thrilled. That "tax the 1%" plan – great until the ultra-rich bolt, and suddenly you're the new 1%, footing the bill for everyone.

History could help inform the Democrats here. Leftist President Jimmy Carter's leftward lurch paved the way for lines at petrol stations and Ronald Reagan's landslide leading to 12 years of Republican rule. Then Clinton swooped in as a centrist finally winning an election for the Democrats.

So Mamdani's potential win? Sweet for him and the squad-style lefties. But for Democrats eyeing 2028 or beyond, it could be a disaster – a radical overdose that pushes swing voters rightward.

New York might survive the experiment (it's tough like that), but the party? They might need to rediscover their centrist roots before it's too late.

​​l Phelim McAleer is a Co Tyrone born producer/journalist based in Los Angeles