It’s Nov. 4, 2025 and the New York Times just announced Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race. Three thousand miles away in San José, California, Lynbrook students flood to social media to repost that same headline, raising the question: why does an election that far away matter so much to them?
The most obvious reason is Mamdani’s far-reaching social media campaign. He amassed 10 million followers on Instagram in less than a year, surprising other Democrats and engaging millions of young people across the country in his campaign. His success wasn’t due to trend-hopping, but authenticity. Mamdani stuck to his beliefs even when others dismissed his plans to make city buses free and freeze rent as outlandish, instead of chasing his audience. His resolution is a personality trait young voters were craving in an era of disillusionment with the Democratic establishment.
“In recent decades, the Democratic party has seemed detached,” senior Rohan Chaudhary said. “Zohran Mamdani came in with a very clear message about reducing the rent and the cost of living. He didn’t do as much grand posturing as Andrew Cuomo.”
Mamdani’s rise coincided with a time of declining trust in institutions and mainstream political parties, and he thus campaigned on bold ideas like climate action and affordable healthcare. In addition, the high cost of living nationwide has pushed voters to abandon more moderate politicians and propel people like Mamdani into the mainstream.
“Within the standards of the United States, socialism is a radical position to take,” San José State University political science professor Andrew Alexander said. “But more importantly, he talked to people, not just in campaign slogans, but in particular issues that affected them.”
This call to young voters is missing in other political messaging. Campaign analysts noted a few key differences between Mamdani and politicians like former Vice President Kamala Harris. Both achieved online virality, but while Harris drew from popular memes like Charlie XCX’s “Brat” album, Mamdani’s videos included authentic policy explanations, life stories and candid interactions. On Instagram, he posted personable moments like old rap videos, a wrestling match with fans and a clip of him eating Indian food with his hands.
“The very personalized ads he did resonated with the everyday New Yorker,” Chaudhary said. “Oftentimes, he filmed his ads in local Halal stands and local bodegas, talking to actual owners and getting their testimony. If you compare that to someone whose campaign is a bit more grandiose, it was really just a home run from the start.”
This strategy succeeded because it exploits a shift in how younger voters consume information and assess credibility. Gen Z grew up saturated with advertising and curated content, so they’ve developed sharp instincts when it comes to detecting inauthenticity. Rather than credentials or endorsements, Mamdani’s unfiltered approach demonstrates trustworthiness through vulnerability. It contrasted with Cuomo’s public image, which was stained by sexual harassment accusations and alleged collusion with President Donald Trump over strategies to defeat Mamdani.
“Most of Zohran’s content is designed to be relatable and grounded,” sophomore Adam Salme said. “It’s more or less a conversation with the local community. His content sounds more like a conversation you would have with a friend, rather than polished speech, and that really resonates with people.”
Mamdani’s authenticity extends to how he engages with contentious issues. Where other politicians might tiptoe around controversy, Mamdani takes clear stances. His vocal support for Palestinian statehood, willingness to call himself a Democratic socialist and criticism of corporate power are all his actual convictions, not an attempt to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Instead of softening his stances in response to criticism, he leaned into them.
“People would try to attack him for certain things like his nationality, calling him a communist, and it was really counterproductive because they weren’t actually attacking his policies,” senior Wesley Chen said. “I’m really happy to see that people saw beyond that and actually voted for what policies matter to them.”
Critics have argued that Mamdani’s use of social media trivializes important issues, and that his expertise online can’t be translated into actual governance. Opposing candidates have pointed this out, like NYC city comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who declared, “I’m not great on TikTok, but I’m great on accountability.” However, these same politicians tried hard to recreate Mamdani’s online popularity for themselves. And in 2025, it’s impossible to ignore the number one source of political news and information for young people in any campaign. Social media’s fast-paced nature makes posturing and performativity easy to see through.
Mamdani’s success has inspired imitators across the U.S. Congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti is using social media to fuel his campaign for California’s 11th congressional district. Mussab Ali used a similar strategy in his run for Jersey City mayor, referring to himself as “Black Zohran.”
While Mamdani has proven there’s a place for social media in politics, others show how it can be a double-edged sword. It’s the easiest way to spread misinformation, radicalize young people or divide voters.
Lynbrook students care because Mamdani’s victory suggests a possible path forward. With Mamdani’s campaign, they’re watching to see if rent freezes, free buses and universal childcare can move from TikTok into real policy.
“Lybrook has a lot of immigrants, it’s a nice tipping point to see someone of maybe their own culture being elected,” Chen said.
