De Blasio defends democratic socialist Mamdani’s NYC mayoral primary win
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has weighed in on the recent Democratic primary win of Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Mamdani claimed victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary after former New York governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race. While the final outcome of the race will be determined by a ranked count on July 1, Mamdani’s progressive policy proposals have sparked concern among more moderate Democrats.
De Blasio, who served as New York City Mayor from 2014 to 2022, believes that fears over Mamdani’s win are exaggerated. He argues that many of Mamdani’s proposals, such as creating free bus networks, expanding grocery stores, and implementing rent control, have been successfully implemented in other cities. De Blasio downplayed the concerns, stating that if Mamdani wants to tax the wealthy, he will need approval from the legislature.
The former mayor emphasized that Mamdani’s focus on “kitchen table issues” was key to his success in the primary. De Blasio noted that Democrats suffered in the 2024 election cycle due to a lack of emphasis on affordability and other basic needs of everyday New Yorkers. He predicted that police would not be defunded under a potential Mamdani administration, as Mamdani would prioritize addressing the high cost of living in New York City.
De Blasio also addressed concerns about wealthy individuals leaving the city in response to Mamdani’s policies. He pointed out that similar predictions were made when he took office as mayor, but did not come to fruition. De Blasio believes that Mamdani will focus on addressing the needs of working-class and middle-class residents who are struggling to afford living in the city.
Overall, De Blasio is optimistic about Mamdani’s potential as mayor and believes that Mamdani will prioritize the needs of everyday New Yorkers across the ideological spectrum. Despite concerns from more moderate Democrats, De Blasio is confident that Mamdani’s administration will address the pressing affordability issues facing the city.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more.
