“When is Chicago getting our Mamdani?”
Variations of this question have been shared online by Chicagoans ever since the democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected New York’s mayor last November.
“Mamdanistan.” “Mamdanize.” “The Mamdani Effect.” It’s the slang for his platform of fast, free buses, universal childcare, and a city-owned grocery store — and people’s desire for that in their own city.
Beyond his win, there appears to be a real surge in democratic socialism, with over 35 candidates winning their primary elections at the local and national levels. The organization behind them, the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA, has also surpassed a historic milestone of 120,000 members, making it the largest socialist organization in United States history…