Socialist Candidate Zohran Mamdani Surges in New York Mayoral Race, Fueling Concerns Over Progressive Ideology’s Influence

A political shift is reshaping New York City’s political landscape as Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist and prominent figure of the far left, gains momentum in his bid for mayor. Recent polling shows him leading competitors by a significant margin, raising alarms about the influence of radical ideologies on urban governance.

Mamdani’s rise is tied to his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor who has long promoted Marxist theory and anti-Western perspectives from one of America’s most influential academic institutions. Their ideas, once considered fringe, now underpin political campaigns, policy frameworks, and the vision for New York’s future.

The elder Mamdani exemplifies a generation of academics who transformed classrooms into platforms for activism. Through writings, lectures, and curricula, they have normalized views framing the United States as inherently oppressive, capitalism as theft, and Western traditions as in need of dismantling. Students, including Zohran, have absorbed these philosophies, now translating them into political action.

As a Christian university president, I have observed this ideological shift over decades. While many institutions have become hubs for grievance politics and anti-American sentiment, faith-based colleges strive to cultivate wisdom, truth, and service rather than ideological conformity. The solution to extremism in education lies not in reducing learning but in anchoring it in moral clarity and enduring values.

Mamdani’s platform, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, echoes revolutionary rhetoric: abolishing police departments, canceling rent, redistributing wealth, and overhauling New York’s economy. This is not reform—it is a blueprint for ideological upheaval disguised as justice.

The broader trend reflects a crisis in higher education, where elite institutions increasingly prioritize grievance and ideology over truth and character. Instead of nurturing virtuous leaders, they produce political radicals poised to reshape cities. With 35% of Gen Z favoring socialism over capitalism and over 60% of social science faculty identifying as far-left or liberal, the ideological imbalance is stark.

If Mamdani wins, he will set a precedent for other major cities, emboldening a new wave of activist-politicians shaped by critical theory rather than constitutional wisdom. The ideas once confined to campuses are now governing the nation’s largest metropolis.

Rebuilding higher education requires institutions that form citizens, not revolutionaries. Faculty must challenge students to seek truth, not adhere to ideological scripts. History should be taught as it unfolded, not weaponized for political ends.

The threat is no longer theoretical—it is unfolding in real time. The ideology capturing universities seeks to dictate rules for cities, school boards, and generations. Without resistance, its influence will only grow.

Dr. Kent Ingle serves as president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where he advocates for educational models rooted in moral clarity and constitutional principles.