Mamdani is testing his political clout in the New York primary as he looks to reshape the Democratic Party

NEW YORK (AP) — Not long ago, New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani was vilified by leaders of both political parties. Today, just six months after taking office, the 34-year-old social democrat’s political power is rising.

He has always been a darling of the far left, drawing praise from both President Donald Trump and former Democratic pundits like New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. He has emerged as the face of the sporting renaissance in the region. And days before the New York primary, Mamdani is testing the limits of his new political muscle in an attempt to reshape the Democratic Party — in his state capital and in Washington — even if it means challenging his party’s leadership.

Mamdani will join Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. At a massive vote-out rally in Brooklyn on Thursday. The event is designed to elevate the slate of candidates aligned with Mamdani’s values, including two running against Democratic candidates in Tuesday’s primaries.

“He sees that opportunity — that we can fundamentally change the Democratic Party,” said Faiz Shakir, a senior Sanders adviser and friend of Mamdani. “Like Bernie, he’s not saying, ‘I’m doing this to spite you, dear leadership.’ He’s saying, ‘I’m supporting these candidates with a better vision, and I’m willing to lose if that’s the case.'”

Al-Mamdani list

Institutional Democrats are unhappy with the mayor’s decisions.

Mamdani has endorsed political organizer Daryalisa Avila Chevalier over Rep. Adriano Espaillat, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York’s 13th District, which includes parts of upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

He is also supporting former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running against incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th District. On the 7th in New York, he supports Democratic Socialist State Councilwoman Claire Valdez against the successor to outgoing Representative Nydia Velasquez.

Mamdani’s list, along with several state assembly candidates, will be presented at Thursday’s rally.

Read more: The price of beating Trump’s endorsement, and other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries

Valdez says the election is meant to cement the political movement that Mamdani ignited on his way to the City Council.

“Right now, there’s really a collective dissatisfaction with the way the party leadership is operating and not standing up strongly enough against Trump,” she told The Associated Press, comparing the malaise to the way the mayor energized voters last year.

She said she hopes to “bring a partner to Zahran to Washington.”

Valdez’s primary opponent, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, said he feels like the underdog in the race, despite being endorsed by the outgoing incumbent. He said Mamdani “has a celebrity status the likes of which we haven’t seen since I’ve been alive.”

“He will be our champion for the foreseeable future and he is doing a great job, and when he says he supports someone, it is important,” Reynoso said in an interview. “I think this community has seen me work, and they know I’m a progressive champion, and in any other circumstance I would be the favorite to win this race, but I’m not because it’s tipped the scales.”

Watch: Zahran Mamdani talks about his bold agenda in tackling Islamophobia and working with Trump

The two candidates largely agree on major issues, although there are modest differences.

Israel’s war with Gaza featured heavily on Mamdani’s list, with Lander, Valdez and Avila-Chevalier describing their Democratic opponents as too soft on Israel. They are echoing the mayor’s consistent criticism of the country’s leaders and seizing on what they believe could be a driving force in this year’s election.

Mayoral candidates also sought to replicate much of the platform he sent to the City Council, focusing on the city’s high costs of living and presenting themselves as fresh faces not beholden to powerful business interests.

The view from Washington

On Capitol Hill, Democrats are pleasantly surprised that Mamdani is less of a political liability to the party in swing seats than they once feared.

But Mamdani’s endorsement has exacerbated divisions within the party, especially among moderates who worry that Mamdani’s brand of far-leftism could ultimately discredit the entire party.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York native, tried to fend off Democratic socialist challengers backed by Mamdani, endorsing and campaigning for the embattled incumbents in a proxy battle with the mayor.

But Jeffries and Mamdani chose to battle it out only in the primaries rather than publicly bicker and feed GOP narratives of Democratic chaos.

“Democrats must understand, and both the leader and Mamdani appreciate, how to shout where we agree and whisper where we disagree,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist who works with House Democrats.

Watch: How Mamdani’s win could change New York City and the Democratic Party

For now, Jeffries’ allies acknowledge that Mamdani has galvanized Democratic voters and may be able to reach some Americans who have disengaged from the political process. They would also prefer Mamdani to be so focused on running New York City rather than traveling across the country on a national level.

However, Republicans have plans to improve Mamdani’s image whether Democrats in Washington want it or not.

The GOP has not made Mamdani a central feature of its broader national message as it had previously threatened, but Republican activists have sought to connect Mamdani with Democratic House candidates in swing districts across California, Colorado and Wisconsin. They also believe the specter of a New York City mayor will loom large in pivotal House races in New York and New Jersey.

Republicans are betting that weak Democrats cannot break with Mamdani too clearly, for fear of alienating progressive voters, even as they paint him as an extremist.

“Zahran Mamdani’s brand of socialism is as toxic as it gets,” said Mike Marinella, spokesman for the Republican National Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans. “And at a time when Democrats have no leader or message, it’s exactly the kind of bogeyman we can use against Democrats to show who leads their party and the crazy policies they all support.”

Meanwhile, Sanders adviser Shakir encouraged Republicans to try. He noted that Sanders mentions Mamdani in almost every speech as he tours the country to rally voters ahead of the midterm elections.

“The audience is going crazy,” Shaker said. “It’s certainly not a political liability.”

Brown reported in Washington.