Zohran Mamdani, a leading figure in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and now the frontrunner for New York City mayor, calls himself a socialist. His appointments argue he is a communist, and the evidence supports that conclusion.

The DSA’s charter makes clear that its goal is not reforming capitalism but dismantling it entirely. It advocates for collective ownership of resources, centralized planning, and the elimination of what it calls the “parasitic death-drive of capitalism.” These positions align directly with the ideas of Marx and Engels rather than with the social democratic systems in parts of Europe.

The organization Mamdani represents frames capitalism as inseparable from slavery, genocide, and oppression. Its language is not the rhetoric of reform but of revolution. Its charter reads like a modern version of The Communist Manifesto, which declared, “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.”

Mamdani’s embrace of this ideology raises profound concerns about what his leadership would mean for America’s largest city.

History shows where these ideas lead. Venezuela, once one of the wealthiest nations in Latin America, collapsed under the socialist programs of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.

Between 2013 and 2020, the country’s GDP fell by 62%. Hyperinflation reached 1.7 million percent. By 2023, the United Nations reported that over seven million Venezuelans — about 20% of the population — had fled. The promise of equality gave way to poverty and humanitarian disaster.

The Soviet Union remains the most devastating case. Stalin’s rule alone resulted in over 14 million deaths through famine, purges, and labor camps, as documented by historian Robert Conquest. Built on the same collectivist ideology that Mamdani promotes, the Soviet system collapsed in 1991 after decades of economic stagnation and political repression.

Survivors of communism repeatedly warn Americans not to underestimate how quickly promises of equality can turn into authoritarianism.

As Alan Dershowitz told me in a recent conversation, “People who lived through Russian communism, Cuban socialism, or Venezuelan collapse would never vote for Mamdani.”

These communities do not see socialism as a theory. They see it as the ideology that destroyed their nations and forced them into exile.

Mamdani’s own words justify those concerns. He has refused to condemn dangerous slogans such as “globalize the intifada,” admitting that for some, the phrase means violence against Jews.

His refusal to draw moral lines reflects the same ambiguity that socialist leaders have long used to excuse extremism.

Brandon Straka, founder of the #WalkAway movement, summarized the stakes: “I’m fighting Zohran Mamdani and the rise of socialism in New York because this is about much more than politics — it’s about the survival of a free society.”

Socialism never stops with economic promises. It concentrates power, undermines liberty, and opens the door to authoritarianism.

Despite this history, socialism has found support among younger voters. A 2025 YouGov poll revealed that 43% of Americans aged 18–29 view socialism favorably, compared to just 13% of those aged 65 and older. Many young voters are familiar with hashtags, but not with the realities of life under communism.

New York cannot afford to repeat history. Mamdani’s ideology threatens the foundations that sustain both the city and the nation. This election is not simply about who becomes mayor — it is a choice between preserving freedom and embracing an ideology that has failed everywhere it has been tried.

New Yorkers must reject Mamdani before it is too late. If you care about this city — if you care about America — you must help ensure New York walks away from the false promises of socialism and stands firm in defense of liberty.