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Welcome back to The Conversation, Newsweek’s weekly roundup of reader comments. One story has dominated the news this week, and that is the outcome of New York City's mayoral election. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to be voted the mayor of America’s biggest city after the election's highest turnout for half a century. The 34‑year‑old secured 50.4% of the vote and was backed by more than 1 million New Yorkers. Mamdani's win has been met with both cheers and pushback, most noticeably from President Donald Trump, who endorsed Cuomo during the race. Taking to Truth Social before the election, the president wrote: "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!" On the other side, notable figures—including New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont's Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who urged rallygoers to fight against the "oligarchy" by electing candidates like Mamdani—backed the democratic socialist during his campaign. Mamdani’s victory capped off a strong night for Democrats, who also enjoyed election wins in Virginia and New Jersey—in what is seen as an early insight into public reaction to Trump’s first year back in office. Here is what you’ve had to say on the topic: On Reactions to Mamdani's Election Victory Original Article: Mamdani Defeats Cuomo and Sliwa to Win New York City Mayoral Election Background: Here are some reactions to the declaration of Mamdani's win on Tuesday night: Original Comment: "Republicans are trying to make Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party. It’s a gamble because if he’s halfway decent as mayor with his oratory skills, he’ll become as popular as Obama. Everybody’s gonna want him to campaign with them. And with the way the country’s going right now, what do you think it’s gonna be like When the midterms come up? Republicans aren’t gonna change their policies. They’re gonna continue to create havoc and disaster. I think there's a better chance that America will survive this term of Trump‘s now that America has started waking up."–gopnomore110 Editor’s Note: This commenter sees the result as a pivotal moment for Democrats nationally, arguing it could reshape how the party positions itself against Republicans in the Trump era. On the Strategy Behind Mamdani's Win Original Article: How Mamdani Copied the Trump Playbook to Triumph in New York Background: When Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City last fall, few could have predicted his meteoric rise. But, like Trump, he departed from the traditional campaign playbook, harnessing the power of social media and alternative media to win over voters. Original comment: "It's pretty astounding, really. Democrats create a crisis (like the high cost of living in NYC) and then get elected to public office by promising to fix the problem they created."–Spectator Editor’s Note: This reader takes a critical view of how Democrats have managed New York’s long-standing challenges. It’s a sentiment shared by some who question whether change is possible within the city’s existing political framework. On the Significance of Mamdani’s Win Beyond New York Original Article: NYC Mayoral Election: Mamdani Says ‘We’ve Toppled a Political Dynasty’ Background: During his acceptance speech, Mamdani took time to address the president, saying: "Since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up!" Original Comment: "The rest of U.S. will follow New York. The rest of the U.S. wants health care, they want meals in schools, they want wage protections. The Dems have to start to understand this, and to stand for the interests of U.S. citizens, not U.S. corporations. They are not the same thing."–MikeDeBruxelles Editor’s Note: Here, the commenter reads Mamdani’s victory as part of a wider push for progressive policies on health care, wages and education. It’s a perspective that connects New York’s results to a broader conversation about the direction of the Democratic Party. On a Run of Democratic Election Victories Original Article: Democrats Are Celebrating After Election Day—2026 Could Be a Harder Fight Background: Democrats notched big wins in gubernatorial races, mayoral contests and a key ballot measure on Tuesday. Outside of New York City, voters in Virginia, New Jersey and other battlegrounds handed the party crucial wins over Republicans. Original Comment: "Far left Democrats have proven that they can win elections. Not surprising after a year of extreme, right politics and policies. "Can the extremes find middle ground and do the job, or do we elect officials because they can strut their extreme, impracticable solutions to real world, American problems? "If you are truly a moderate, it is time to let your vote be known. The good from both parties need to be supported while the extremes need not be given such power. There is a broad middle ground and little to no room where the extremists, from both sides, live."–ninetynine Editor’s Note: In response to the article, this commenter offers a nuanced critique of how they see modern politics, urging focus on shared values over partisan loyalty. They highlight the importance of moderation and cooperation in today’s political climate. On the Relationship Between Trump and Mamdani Original Article: Trump and Mamdani: A Tale of Two Political Mavericks Background: Mamdani and Trump butted heads several times during the NYC mayoral race with the president at one point even threatening to cut funding to New York City if the Democratic candidate won. The back‑and‑forth has raised a larger question: What will the relationship look like between the two during Mamdani's time as mayor? Original Comment: "Mamdani has outlined an ambitious agenda centered on affordability, housing, and social services. Good luck with that. "Locating and purchasing suitable real estate and putting up buildings in NYC are one thing, but it's not hard to imagine the added pressure placed on local schools, hospitals, water and sewer facilities, fire/police coverage, sanitation, public transportation, postal services, social services etc. etc. with the immense congestion created by these likely taxpayer-funded housing. "Grocery prices will rise significantly due to high demand and not enough supply. Internet broadband speeds will drop as more people connect to the system. Crime rates? Guess. And so on...The cost of 'affordability' and free stuff will end up being a very expensive and inconvenient proposition for everybody when you think about it."–Hhvictor Editor’s Note: Taking a slightly different approach, this commenter expresses concern about the scale of Mamdani’s proposed programs and questions whether they can all realistically be achieved, pointing to the potential strain such initiatives could place on city resources and infrastructure. Thank you for continuing the conversation—do you agree or disagree with the comments? Let us know—and make sure to look out for more highlighted comments over the next few weeks.
