NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani shocked the world when he upset former Gov. Andrew Cuomo with his 13-point victory in the Democratic primary. With less than 24 hours from Election Day, polls show he’s positioned to win big all over again.
Tuesday is bound to have huge implications for the city and the Democratic party writ large. With Mamdani’s steady rise, New York’s business class has descended into a panic over the prospect of the world’s financial capital being led by a Democratic socialist who has vowed to tax the rich — and much of the city’s Jewish community is already in shock over the nominee’s long, passionate history of anti-Israel activism. At the same time, Mamdani has activated an energetic and younger base of voters at a time when Democrats’ popularity is waning nationally.
In the last four months, Mamdani has been forced to face a broader electorate, a hesitant party leadership and widespread national media attention. And all of that has offered a clearer window into the once low-profile 34-year-old state lawmaker’s background, perspective and leadership style if elected…