By Matija Šerić
The question is how much Zohran Mamdani will be able to realize his ambitious socialist promises in practice. Expectations are high, especially after the previous Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, failed to deliver the desired results—primarily a better life for New Yorkers. It will be interesting to see whether Mamdani fulfills his campaign slogans. It would be premature to make predictions, as he deserves the chance to prove how ready he is to change the American system on a micro level—albeit in the country’s largest city.
Obstacles from the State of New York
The unconventional politician will face several obstacles. One of them is the State of New York. Governor Kathy Hochul, although she endorsed Mamdani, has stated that she will not support raising taxes on the wealthiest, arguing that she does not want business leaders to leave the state. This opposition will significantly complicate the implementation of social projects (universal free healthcare for children up to five years old, free public buses) that aim to create a more inclusive society. A clash with state authorities is likely.
Trump as the Main Opponent of Change
Another major problem is the federal government under Trump’s control. Cuts in federal funding could deal a blow to NYC, as roughly 10 percent of the city’s budget comes from the federal government—a significant amount. Additionally, Trump might send the National Guard to New York to weaken Mamdani, and by extension, the NYPD, which is already combating widespread crime in the Big Apple. Trump is known for his love of internal political battles, even when they negatively affect the state.
Interview with the new mayor
The Democratic Establishment – A Challenge to Overcome
The new mayor will also face the challenge of transitioning quickly from a grueling campaign to the demanding responsibilities of office. The New York state budget is passed around April 1, and the city budget shortly thereafter. Mamdani and his team will have to secure funding for his campaign promises quickly, which will not be easy. To achieve his goals, Mamdani will also need to navigate battles within the Democratic Party, particularly its more moderate, liberal, establishment wing. The establishment wing will naturally defend the interests of large corporations, such as the real estate lobby, which has no interest in lowering rents or apartment prices.
The Beginning of the End for Trump’s Era?
However, it is clear that Mamdani’s victory is a strong blow to Donald Trump’s administration, to the idea of Trumpism, and to the MAGA movement. It has shown that Trump’s policies do not promote national unity but rather deepen divisions. Trump’s moves—such as flirting with a third term, filling the Supreme Court and other courts with conservative judges, repressing immigrants, deploying the National Guard in cities with Democratic mayors, dismissing federal employees en masse (over 200,000 people either fired or resigned), cutting funds for federal agencies, or undermining press freedom—have sparked resistance among a large part of the American public. In this context, Mamdani’s victory could mark the beginning of the end for Trump’s America.
Socialists Could Gain Power
Legally, Trump would have to leave office in January 2029, but he plans to nominate a protégé like JD Vance to continue his policies (possibly with Trump behind the scenes). Given Trump’s aggressive and confrontational rhetoric, this plan is uncertain. Analysts increasingly suggest that radical Democrats could come to power, pursuing policies 180 degrees opposite to Trump’s. This has recently been reinforced by former Kamala Harris adviser Pablo O’Hana, who stated that Mamdani’s victory could pave the way for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) to win the presidency in 2028. It is important to note that Mamdani can never become President of the United States, as he was born in Africa, not on U.S. soil. However, it is likely that the radical left wing of the Democratic Party, represented by Mamdani, AOC, and Bernie Sanders, could rise to power.
Key Midterm Elections in 2026
Before the 2028 presidential elections, next year on November 3, U.S. midterm elections for both houses of Congress will take place. All 435 House seats and 35 of 100 Senate seats will be contested. If Democrats win one or both chambers, Trump’s power as president will be greatly limited. In that case, Trump would be able to act mainly through executive orders or would need to find a modus vivendi, i.e., functional cohabitation with Democrats—a difficult scenario to imagine.
US government shutdown lasts 41 days
Congressional Battles
Even today, when Trump and Republicans hold a Congressional majority, government shutdowns have occurred. One such shutdown lasted 41 days because Democrats and Republicans in the Senate could not agree on government funding after October 1. Democrats wanted the funding bill to include extensions of tax breaks that make healthcare more affordable for millions of Americans and to reverse funding cuts for health agencies. For the federal government to function, the funding bill must be approved by 60 senators. Republicans hold 53 seats, which is insufficient, giving Democrats leverage. Although compromise is likely, such clashes will increase if Democrats become the majority party in Congress.
Trump’s Possible Impeachment
In this scenario, Trump’s presidential power could be significantly curtailed (similar to Obama at times), and he could even face impeachment. Democrats could initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors,” as stipulated in Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. In the House, the president is impeached if 218 of 435 representatives vote in favor. However, impeachment does not remove the president; a Senate trial then follows, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acting as prosecutor and senators as jury. A two-thirds majority (67 of 100 senators) is required for removal. If this threshold is reached, the president is immediately removed, and the vice president assumes office. While unlikely today, if Democrats gain control of Congress, and given Trump’s tendency to skirt the law, impeachment becomes more probable.
Will the U.S. Become a Socialist Country?
If radical leftist Democrats gain the presidency and dominate Congress, America could begin to follow paths of socialism, neo-communism, and the radical left. These are paths the U.S. has never taken, although socialism was quite popular among Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While Mamdani has condemned the socialist dictatorships of Venezuela and Cuba, his policies closely resemble classical socialist measures implemented in these countries or in failed states like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. State-run stores and free public services such as transportation and housing are classic examples of socialist policies.
Ruthless capitalism has pushed New Yorkers—especially the highly educated—toward the principles of democratic socialism promoted by Mamdani. How and to what extent socialism will be implemented in New York, and possibly across the U.S., will be interesting to observe. The question is whether AOC or other radicals will try to introduce socialism, considering the influence of major capital funding Democrats. At first glance, probably not—but genuine commitment to change should not be ruled out.
If Democrats truly implement socialism, it would be an unprecedented experiment that has not succeeded in its pure form anywhere except Russia for several decades. Will the U.S. become a new Cuba or Venezuela, or will it prove that socialism can work if implemented wisely and in a hybrid form (Scandinavian model)? We may get answers in the coming years. We live in an unpredictable world, where nothing is impossible, no matter how science-fictional some scenarios may appear.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrj1znp0pyo
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/policy-ideas-zohran-mamdani-nyc-election
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/04/new-york-mayoral-election-analysis-00634477
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5597788/election-results-zohran-mamdani-new-york-city-mayor
