by Rajnish Singh
Given the success of right-wing populists in gaining power and votes across both the United States and Europe, it is understandable that Democrats and European progressives were energised by the victory of a self-styled socialist in the New York City mayoral election.
His win was both impressive and historic: Zohran Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, and at 34, its youngest ever. He defeated the former Governor of New York State and long-time Democratic heavyweight Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani ran a formidable campaign, remaining relentlessly positive and using his communication skills and social-media reach to powerful effect.
He made radical pledges rarely seen in mainstream US politics, universal childcare, rent controls, affordable housing, free bus travel and economic justice, appealing strongly to young people and certain ethnic minorities, especially Muslims. Little wonder his victory electrified progressives, particularly as he did not shy away from attacking President Donald Trump.
Yet there was scant detail on how these ambitious policies would be funded, and many Jewish voters expressed concern over Mamdani’s past comments about Israel and the Gaza war. A closer look suggests that his victory is less convincing than it first appears, largely because of the unique circumstances of New York City politics and its deep Democratic support. Even Cuomo, his defeated rival, was a Democrat who chose to run as an independent.
For progressives seeking broader lessons, more significant elections took place the same day, 4 November 2025, in New Jersey and Virginia. Centrist Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, both women with national-security backgrounds, were elected governor with far larger margins than expected. They ran on bread-and-butter issues, avoided ideological battles and culture wars, and projected competence above all.
Across the Atlantic, the Netherlands offered another instructive example. In late October, the Dutch Liberal Party D66 won a razor-thin victory, by just 15,000 votes, over Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV. After years of a right-wing coalition, Dutch voters opted for D66 leader Rob Jetten’s brand of pragmatic optimism. At 38, Jetten, similar in age to Mamdani, is poised to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first openly gay prime minister.
Like Mamdani, Jetten campaigned on housing reform and economic fairness, but he also emphasized a pro-European stance, climate action, and political stability. Crucially, he maintained broad mainstream appeal. While left-wing rivals like the S&D and Greens saw their vote share decline, smaller right-wing parties such as JA21 and Forum for Democracy (FvD) made gains. Meanwhile, the centrist Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) also improved its standing, reinforcing the political strength of Dutch centrists despite growing fragmentation.
Spanberger and Sherrill executed similar strategies in the US. Spanberger, a former CIA officer, leaned into her national-security credentials and bipartisan record. Sherrill, a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, emphasised competence and family-first governance. Both ran disciplined campaigns that resonated with moderates and independents, winning in states that could easily swing Republican in the midterm elections of November 2026.
Despite the hype surrounding Mamdani, these victories are more instructive for one simple reason: scale. Spanberger and Sherrill now govern entire states, while Jetten could soon lead a whole country. Mamdani, though groundbreaking in many ways, governs a single city. His brand of democratic socialism, while energising to young and progressive Democrats, risks alienating swing voters beyond New York, as he is considered as extreme left wing.
It may be too early to tell whether these results mark a rejection of right-wing populism or simply fatigue with polarisation. Yet the message from voters appears clear: they want competence, clarity and hope.
But Jetten, Spanberger and Sherrill could offer a potential blueprint for a new kind of centrism, one that is bold without being bombastic, practical without being technocratic, and unifying without echoing the extremes of either the far left or the far right. Progressives yearning to defeat populists would do well to look towards them, and not just to New York City.
By: N. Peter Kramer
