There’s a new front-cover man in the Democratic Party following the dismantling of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign in 2024: California governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsome, 57, appears to be the picture-perfect candidate on the surface. He’s much younger than this modern era of presidents, conventionally attractive, with a combative charisma that has gotten under the Trump administration’s skin on social media.
However, in the 2024 presidential race, it wasn’t race or gender that caused the Democrats to lose. It was policy. While it’s easy to say, “Things would be better if Harris won,” as Joe Biden’s second-in-command, the administration sent billions of dollars to Israel and billions of dollars to ICE. The whole time, little was done to combat Republican agendas against life-saving healthcare, such as abortions and insulin, increase affordability and combat hate speech.
All in all, Harris lost due to her inability to separate herself from Biden. Newsom, from a policy perspective, is following the same playbook. He’s fully capable of cutting words and “Gotcha!” moments on X. California has struggled with homelessness, affordability and employment, as an unchecked, billionaire-owned housing market continues to grow out of reach for the working class.
In the meantime, nearly 3,000 miles away, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is showing the Democrats how to win: with policy and substance that positively impact the average American.
Mamdani, 33, is a card-carrying Democratic Socialists of America member and is destigmatizing the label of socialism by fighting for things Americans care about: affordability and access. Mamdani’s campaign points, including freezing rent and making buses fast and free, have become well-known in and outside the sphere of New York City.
In the Democratic primary, Mamdani blew out dynastic candidate Andrew Cuomo, whose family has had its hands deep in politics for generations. Cuomo is now running as an independent, trying to take down Mamdani in the general election through lackluster attacks on topics like the rent of his apartment, in response to a video of Mamdani detailing Cuomo’s history of sexual harassment.
In the Democratic primary, Mamdani drew a record-breaking pool of voters, bringing in New Yorkers who had never voted before to topple Cuomo. Mamdani’s success has not only inspired voters in New York City, but also campaigning candidates across the country.
Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh, 35, is another Socialist running with major success, despite lacking billionaire and even party backing. More recently, in Maine, senator candidate Graham Platner, 40, is running for a Democratic seat with rhetoric aimed at the approach of Democrats.
While the success stories of candidates running to the left of the establishment Democrats grow in number, Newsom’s all-bark, no-bite approach is bound to lose momentum. As we inch closer and closer to 2028, voters will be looking for more substance than what Newsom or Harris has been willing to provide.
Logan Adams is a senior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Logan know by tweeting him @LoganPAdams.
