It's possible - arguably even likely - that the Dem establishment still won't get the message and will instead continue to try to con us into supporting corrupt neolib hacks and will continue to undermine actual leftists.
In fact, I sort of half expect the New York party to abandon Mamdani and instead back a write-in campaign for Cuomo.
I wish I was kidding.
Even if they show never-before-seen integrity and determination and actualy shift back toward supporting actual leftists (or get replaced by a new generation of leaders who will), I still think it's likely going to be too late. The longer Trump and his ilk remain in office, the more likely it becomes that opposing them will just get you on the next flight to some overseas concentration camp, or dead, or both.
The Democrats are going to try to ratfuck him, sure. They're never going to get the message
But this is how we clean them out. This is why AOC and Bernie are doing rallies - so that every seat that comes up is filled with a progressive. And this is a big seat
As for it being too late... Yeah, we're fucked. But we can still make things better. There's no reason to yield ground, maga is incredibly incompetent - they can be beat.
I wouldn't be surprised if the establishment decides open corruption is pretty cool actually and starts trying to rehabilitate Adams' image. Seems like trying to run both Adams and Cuomo is a fools errand and Adams is stubborn enough to stay in regardless so they'll have to go with him.
Though I dont endorse accelerationism, when presented with that scenario accelerationism may be the only path forward. You cant keep hobbling for decades, slowly losing and falling further behind. It may be necessary to do what the nation is doing now: losing so that everyone can be reminded of what they had and what they want instead of being blissfully ignorant of both.
It is too late for electoral politics to save democracy, if that's what you're talking about. People like Mamdani are important for the day after, but Trump will have to be deposed much like his ilk in Ukraine and Tunisia.
I'm always very intrigued by those pushing the rhetoric that it's too late to use elections to solve this, and admonish anyone that tries.
But at the same time they themselves refuse to start a revolution they insist is the only way. While simultaneously waiting for someone else to do it for them.
In the end the suggestion seems to be to not do anything and hope someone else does it for you. Be that by democratic means or armed means.
If you're not starting the rebellion you sure as hell need to be engaged with the existing democratic proccess. Otherwise you're just not doing anything at all. Which is the worst option
Maybe in our current state, where corruption can occur, but in a new, more democratic system where corruption can't occur because no single person will have enough wealth or the financial incentive to be able to buy politicians.
The problem isn't electoral politics, but that we don't live in a democracy.
For sure, but we’ve seen hope like this go down the drain before. The circumstances here were favorable I think. RCV primary against an unlikable and disgraced opponent in NYC is hardly a death knell for the national corpo Dems
He already has, up to this point. In fact, big parts of the party tried to support his competition. They failed. He's another in AOC mould. He may be good or great but there is an increasing trickle of progressive candidates.
The more that win by being good the more that can win without being so good. He may not be the Dems saviour but he's a step in the right direction and a worrying sign for Republicans and establishment politicians.
Yeah I'm just saying there's a lot more to go even in this race alone. Just because ZOHRAN WON the primary that doesn't mean the Democrats leadership will be happy about it
Either they listen to their voters and become a 'new' democratic party, or they'll continue bleeding numbers and die. Either way, it's still the beginning of the end.
RCV undermines the necessity for a partisan vote. That's why Cuomo - the party establishment pick - lost by 8 points to a local outsider with better politics and a cleaner reputation.
But I agree, at some point, you do need to support someone. And if that someone is part of a large political organization (aka a party) they can bring a lot of financial and labor resources to bare when organizing and implementing political reforms. In the case of New York City, which is functionally a one party municipality (Dems regularly swamp the GOP 2:1), Zohran's entrance to the statewide political scene is a huge break from the traditional partisan politics that gave us Eric Adams and threatened to give us four more years of a corrupt, real estate entwined sex pest.
The fact that he's got a large, active, well-financed DSA behind him - in a way that transformed a coronation into a competitive primary - is a huge point in his favor.
Every time something hopeful like this appears I start wondering if it's safe to imagine that maybe things could get better here in the US. But so far I've been disappointed over and over. Part of me wants to just skip over the "maybe something good will happen" part and get right to the "oh, well, looks like he was assassinated by a blackwater hit squad" part. Money is power. The donor class gets what they want. And I have no faith that working within the electoral system will fix that.
I start wondering if it’s safe to imagine that maybe things could get better
It's always safe to imagine. Imagining is the first step to a better place to live. But the dream can't live in your head forever. At some point, you need to take action.
I have no faith that working within the electoral system will fix that.
Mobilizing a large group of activists around a set of tangible and popular goals is its own reward, whether or not the electoral system is accommodating to the politician's success.
This is NOT true! The ONLY Reason he Won was because we DIDNT have Elon Musk Backing us or make our Platform CLEAR enough! Next time we'll spend BILLIONS of Dollars LETTING people know we WONT do ANYTHING to Improve Their Lives! THAT will bring them RUSHING back to Us!
We've been waiting for your participation and votes in the Democratic Party. Its great to see people start taking part no matter what brings them on board. If you are excited about this consider joining your local Democratic party, every few years we re-elect everyone from the precinct all the way to the DNC. Check with your State Democratic party for more info.
We need a future where money doesn't decide politics and appreciate the work to make this an election decided on the issue. Its great day and with a great candidate winning. Having people get involved in their local party can help efforts to better align the party.
The issue about third party candidates might be a little mute in New York which is one of the last few states that has fusion voting in General elections. Its an intersting effort that allows other parties to nominate a candidate or endorse another parties candidate if they align. Seeing that Zohran Mamdani is a DSA member, its one of the voting methods that helped elect Socialist to office at the turn of the last century. Glad New York retains an intersting voting method and that former Governor Andrew Cuomo didn't succeed in ruining that legacy.
Even if you are more interested in DSA it is still worth joining the local party. I believe the DSA support the "Dirty Break" method to build off the Democrat party line and use that as leverage if they or their policies were to be pushed out.
If your intention is to bring new people into the Democratic party, you're doing a terrible job. And if it isn't and you just want to be condescending to straw men online, maybe don't tie that sort of attitude to the party. You can just be dickish in a personal capacity.