A little more than two weeks in the aftermath of Zohran Mamadni’s historic victory, questions and divisions are still incredibly potent. Following an intensely turbulent campaign in which he faced the brunt of an anti-Islamic propaganda train fueled by his opponents, his campaign victory is a testament to grassroots campaign work and a promise for societal change.

Starting a little over a year ago, following the second Trump victory, Mamdani had very little support amongst New Yorkers, polling at only 3%. However, in the aftermath of a grassroots campaign and his calls for social and political change, Mamdani’s rise became a potent symbol of what New York could become. Mamdani’s perseverance and consistent messaging and policies resonated deeply with many New Yorkers, especially after an Adams administration riddled with scandal.

With his sudden rise in popularity came immense pushback from many politicians. Several billionaires donated to opposing campaigns, in particular Andrew Cuomo’s. Cuomo, who resigned as governor of New York due to sexual harassment allegations, was persistent in his attacks on Mamdani, leading to several high-profile debates in which the two exhibited clear tensions amongst each other. Mamdani defeated Cuomo (and all other challengers) during the citywide Democratic primary in June. Andrew Cuomo chose to run in the November general election on the “Fight and Deliver” party line. Mamdani defeated Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Siwa in November

Now that Mamdani has won the election, he will have to endure a considerably higher level of challenge against several key establishments. For one, the White House. In the past year, the second Trump administration has been incredibly vocal about their opponents, with President Trump directly threatening to deport Mamdani over his beliefs. Shortly after the election, Mamdani met with Trump at the White House, where Trump wished him the best in his political career and offered support, with Mamdani maintaining his stance that the President is a fascist. The meeting was highly publicized, and many were shocked by the positive reaction President Trump had towards Mamdani.

In addition, Albany will be another considerable challenge, as they have directly stood in opposition to many of his policies. While Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani, his Democratic Socialist policies have been met with high derision by much of the political establishment. He will likely have an uphill battle in winning over many of the higher ups.

Ultimately, while his campaign has brought about much political success and positive change, only time will tell if Mamdani is able to successfully convince the political establishment of his policies. Just doing this may take a considerable amount of time. In the midst of such a tumultuous time, Mamdani will likely have to reach across the aisle or make compromises that may hinder his vision of a safer New York. Only history will show if he is able to make right on his promises.