Zohran Mamdani seemingly came out of nowhere in 2025 to become Mayor of New York City. He's a self-described democratic socialist and his platform illustrates those views. Critics have labeled him a communist or a socialist and warned that NYC is going to become the next Cuba or Venezuela. But what, exactly, is democratic socialism, where has it worked, and why is it appealing? I'll explore those questions and why the success or failure of this most-viewed administration outside of Washington will possibly determine the fate of Democrats in 2026 and beyond.
