Tammamdani Hall: How a NYC mayor built a progressive kingmaker

After winning the mayoralty, Zohran Mamdani and NYC-DSA built a powerful, movement-driven operation that endorsed and helped victories for eight candidates, including Assemblymember Claire Valdez for Velázquez’s seat, using videos, fundraisers, rallies, and door-to-door organizing to cement a left-wing coalition against the traditional establishment and the Working Families Party. Mamdani channels La Guardia’s machine-building approach while keeping DSA as an allied force rather than a rival power, making him a kingmaker with a careful balance of influence and independence.