Zohran Mamdani just won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor—a position that, given the city’s 7-to-1 Democrat-to-Republican voter ratio, makes him the presumptive next mayor of America’s largest, most influential city.
But Mamdani isn’t just any Democrat. He’s a self-identified “democratic socialist,” aligned with the far-left politics of figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And in a resurfaced video from 2021 that’s now gaining new attention, Mamdani reveals that his political views may go far beyond what most voters understand as traditional progressive politics.
In the video, Mamdani states bluntly:
“What the purpose is about this entire project, it’s not simply to raise class consciousness, but to win socialism.”
He goes on to advocate for electing more socialists to public office and says they should be “unapologetic” about that ideology.
But terrifyingly his radical beliefs don’t end there. He goes on to say, “There are also other issues that we firmly believe in, whether it’s BDS, right, or whether it’s the end goal of seizing the means of production, where we do not have the same level of support at this very moment.”
If you’re not familiar with BDS it stands for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions. It’s the bedrock of every Palestinians belief that every company in America and every government in the world needs to target Israel with this movement to punish them for existing.
That last phrase—“seizing the means of production”—is not just activist rhetoric. It’s the foundational principle of communism. In Marxist theory, it refers to the government or collective ownership of all resources used to produce goods and services, eliminating private property and private enterprise.
Mamdani has not clarified whether this statement reflects his personal belief or is a broader ideological aspiration. But his embrace of such language raises important questions—especially for someone poised to lead one of the most economically vital and diverse cities in the world.
New York City is home to industries built on private enterprise, including finance, technology, and real estate. Any leader who advocates even rhetorically for the dismantling of private control over production could introduce major uncertainty—particularly if those beliefs translate into policy.
Mamdani’s background is also worth noting. He is the son of prominent filmmaker Mira Nair and economist Mahmood Mamdani, both of whom have achieved considerable success within the very capitalist system their son appears to critique. That doesn’t invalidate his beliefs, but it does highlight the irony in his political messaging.
This isn’t just a local story. As New York often serves as a cultural and political bellwether for the rest of the country, Mamdani’s rise could reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party—and a deeper ideological divide that goes far beyond ordinary partisan politics.
Voters across the country would be wise to watch how this story unfolds. A candidate openly embracing socialism, including goals traditionally associated with communism, in one of the most influential cities in the U.S. is a development worth paying attention to—no matter where you live.
But you don’t have to take my word for it, watch Mamdani tell you all this for himself.
This is not terrible AI, it's a real message from the current frontrunner for NYC Mayor to his socialist comrades.
"The end goal of seizing the means of production."
I can't believe this is actually happening. pic.twitter.com/KNxQV2QCX7
— MAZE (@mazemoore) June 30, 2025