Free childcare, free bus transport, a higher minimum wage, new apartments and higher taxes for the rich: if mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has his way, a progressive wind will blow through New York. But to what extent is that possible under the current president, Donald Trump?
“In America, there are roughly two systems of urban governance,” explains Americanist Peter van der Heiden. The classic Strong Mayor System, in which the mayor is a kind of president of the city and has a lot of executive power. And the Weak Mayor System, in which the mayor's power is limited and he or she is primarily a kind of chair of the city council. “New York is governed according to the classic system, which gives the mayor considerable influence over urban policy.”
Some kind of moron
Mamdani will therefore be a thorn in Trump's side. “In ‘his’ city of all places, a mayor could come to power who could be seen as the polar opposite of himself. Few cities hate Trump as much as New York. The choice of Mamdani would be a big middle finger to the president,” says Van der Heiden. At the same time, Mamdani is the ideal straw man for Trump, a symbol of everything that is wrong with the Democratic Party, says Van der Heiden. “Trump is going to start talking about Mamdani's background and try to portray him as some kind of moron. You can bet on that.”
But can Trump actually hinder Mamdani in the implementation of his plans? Anyone reading from the Netherlands about the ease with which Trump cuts subsidies or raises trade tariffs would think so. But this is not the case: “The domestic influence of a president is not that big. It is limited to federal legislation, which in the United States accounts for only 10 per cent of all laws. The vast majority of decisions are made at the state level, where the president has no say.” Nevertheless, New York, which has an annual budget of 115 billion dollars, is financially dependent on the federation. “Trump can (partially) withdraw subsidies to cities, but the question is to what extent."
A wheelbarrow full of frogs
In any case, Trump and other Republicans need not fear that Mamdani will run for president after his time as mayor. Because he was born in Uganda, he cannot become president. “Moreover, as mayor, you are under fire and suffer so much damage that you rarely manage to be a successful presidential candidate.” Only once has a mayor made it to the highest office. Grover Cleveland served two terms as president between 1885 and 1897 after previously serving as mayor of Buffalo.
Although he cannot become president, Mamdani, as mayor of New York, can certainly influence the image of the Democratic Party. Van der Heiden therefore suspects that the party leadership is watching developments in New York with some concern. “Mamdani can be seen as the Democrats’ new left winger, the most left-wing flank that also includes party members such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Regardless of what you think of their views, the Democrats will find it very difficult if politicians such as Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez start to define the party’s image, because then it will be very difficult to retain large groups of centrist Democrats.”
Van der Heiden emphasises the major differences between Democrats. “In New York, Democrats are a lot more left-wing than in, say, Texas. If you compare it to the Netherlands, the Democratic Party covers a broad political spectrum, from the liberal flank of the VVD to the SP.” Van der Heiden does not currently see a leader who can unite all Democrats.
“That would have to be a moderate leader who recognises and knows how to manage all the different groups within the party.” At the moment, that is not the case. On the contrary: “There is blind panic among the Democrats. The party currently resembles a wheelbarrow full of frogs. They are unable to steer the party in a clear direction.”