Mauro della Porta Raffo.
Mauro della Porta Raffo, Honorary President of the Italy USA Foundation, one of the greatest experts in the history of the American subcontinent, defines the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York as an “epochal event”. «The event desired by many and feared by many has materialized. Furthermore, two of her theoretical party colleagues (Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia), with positions that are decidedly less radical and more pleasing to the Asinello establishment, won their respective competitions for the local governorship.
Who is Zohran Mamdani and what are his main characteristics that emerged during the election campaign?
«Zohran Mamdani is the self-defined “socialist” and Muslim candidate. He had also been presented as “the youngest mayor of New York ever”, but this is not true, given that he is thirty-four years old and a nineteenth-century predecessor was thirty-one”.
How did Mamdani win the City Hall?
«Mamdani clearly surpassed (over fifty percent of the votes and more than one million votes) the former Governor of the State Andrew Cuomo, fighting as an independent, and he roughed up the inconsistent Republican Curtis Sliwa, winning the municipality of the Big Apple».
When is he expected to take office?
«He will take office on January 1, 2026».
His family is of considerable importance and comes from cosmopolitan intellectual circles.
“Real. The father, Mahmood, is an internationally renowned university professor and scholar and the mother, Mira Nair, is a screenwriter and film director of even greater validity, well known and appreciated.”
After the victory, Mamdani is considered a valid “alternative to Trump” or one of his political heirs.
«No, Mamdani will not be and could not be, if not entirely ideally, the dreamed of, much invoked, “alternative to Trump” or in perspective to one of his political heirs. It would be enough to mention the fact that he will never be able to become president of the United States because he is not an American citizen “ius soli”, born on American soil, (he was born in Kampala, Uganda) nor the son of two American citizens, as required by the Constitution (article II, section 1, clause 5). Being an acquired citizen allows him to run for mayor, governor, even president of Congress. But not president of the United States of America.”
How did he present himself after the election?
«His first words to his supporters were: “I see the dawn of a better day for humanity”. He then added: “New York will remain a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, fueled by immigrants and, starting tonight, led by an immigrant.”
Then he added: “Trump, I know you’re listening, turn up the volume.” Does Trump really fear him?
«Trump stated on the Truth social network “I wasn’t on the ballot” and that this, combined with government paralysis as a result of the shutdown, formed “the two reasons why the Republicans lost the election tonight”. For Trump, Mamdani is a big “thorn in his side” but not much more.”
What dilemma opens up for the Democratic Party after the conflicting results of these elections?
«In the Mid Term Elections of 3 November 2026, in addition to the total renewal of the Chamber, thirty-five senatorial seats will also be contested (thirty-three with natural expiry dates plus two supplementary elections). The Democrats must not only overturn the chamber numbers, above all take four seats in the Senate from their rivals. Very difficult mission because a large part of the Senators in the game are from the Grand Old Party and therefore confirmable. For information, although confirmations tend to be slightly easier in the democratic field, in general it can be argued that approximately eighty-five/ninety percent (it may also depend on the periods) of the Laticlavi who stand again are re-elected. The dilemma is whether it should take extremes and radicalize positions, following the winning Mamdani, in view of the Mid-Term Elections of November 2026, or aim for the usual and solid “centre”, as the establishment believes”.
