Republicans Weaponize Socialist Victory in NYC Mayoral Race to Target Democrats

By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 12:48 PM EST

Republican efforts to capitalize on next year’s midterms have intensified as they leverage the victory of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has launched a coordinated campaign linking Mamdani’s win to what they claim is a “socialist takeover” of the Democratic Party, according to Politico.

In 49 competitive House districts, NRCC digital ads warn that Democrats “share Mamdani’s vision” of defunding police departments and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A narrator in one ad declares, “This is the future House Democrats want. Radical. Reckless. And coming soon to your community—unless we stop them.”

The strategy follows President Donald Trump’s 2024 election, which returned Republicans to power in the White House. Conservatives argue Mamdani’s unexpected victory in New York provides a powerful symbol of Democratic extremism. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), urged donors to “fight back early” against what he called the “Mamdani-Schumer wing of the Democratic Party,” claiming socialism now dominates the party.

The NRCC’s own polling revealed Mamdani had 81% name recognition and a double-digit unfavorable rating in swing districts, reinforcing the GOP’s view that his election is a national liability for Democrats ahead of 2026. Republicans aim to tie every Democrat to Mamdani’s agenda, creating a unified narrative from suburban Wisconsin to New York’s Hudson Valley.

Mamdani’s win has made him a focal point for conservative attacks, with some labeling him a “Communist Muslim Jihadist” on social media. While Democrats publicly praised his historic victory as the first Muslim and avowed socialist to lead New York City, moderate factions privately worry about the challenge his rise poses to their electoral strategy in key states.