Mamdani is proving the excuses were always a choice:

[applegrove]

Progressive Dems and socialists are proving that political limits are often just choices made by people in power. Voters are not asking Democrats to offer less. They are rewarding leaders bold enough to fight for more.

open.substack.com/pub/distills...

— Distill Social (@distillsocial.bsky.social) 2026-06-24T19:39:48.061Z

[Wonder Why]

1. Of the top 10 reasons politicians vote a certain way, 11 of them are "to get reelected".

[IronLionZion]

16. Some places have term limits

For example: Virginia Governor is one term, no reelection.

[Scrivener7]

2. This. NYC looks different and feels different since he has been elected.

I confess, I was afraid of an untried 33 year old. But I'm so glad no one listened to me. He's amazing.

[Scubamatt]

3. Wow!

Who would have thought that Democratic voters actually support leaders who take action and voice of strong message about Democratic priorities? (SARCASM)

Seriously, we are a big tent, and what works in NYC may not work in Ohio or Georgia, BUT for far too long, too many of our leaders (NOTE I am by no means saying all) have been satisfied with staking out positions just an inch or so to the left of the ever shifting crazy right wing, in an effort to appeal to some ill defined mushy middle. It's long past time we try Mandami's approach on a larger scale and challenge our country to be significantly better than what we currently are.

[dave99]

11. Will Rogers most famous quote on being a Democrat also trivialised the party:

“I belong to no organized party; I am a Democrat,

“It takes nerve to be a Democrat, but it takes money to be a Republican.“

“Democrats take the whole thing as a joke. Republicans take it serious but run it like a joke.“

[Cha]

4. It's Life or Death that we Win the

Midterms All Over the Country. What works in NYC doesn't mean it works in Swing Districts.

The Midterms are about All Dems winninig, not just some.

[mr715]

5. I'm going to agree in part, but pivot emphasis

I agree 100% that the policies of NY democrats (and especially NYC democrats) are going to be different than "national" or say, Texas Democrats.

The Mamdani effect, though, is stylistic and I suspect it might transcend mere policy issues. This is just a suspicion (and hope) I have.

[Akakoji]

8. Correct

We are a big family. Democrats are true patriots that actually care about people. I'm seriously disappointed that Micah Lasher won in CD-12 by a little, and know he would never have won if Schlossberg had gotten over his ego, and a massive majority of Democrats voted only on their religion. I think Mamdani relented in this case by not endorsing Bores, and others really wanted to keep the CD Jewish, as the largest concentration in the US of extremely wealthy, wealthy, upper class, and middle class Jews live in the district. That's not a problem, but a fact. But our Governor Hochul making shit up about Lasher's actual accomplishments was too much to take. It is what it is. We had people in our district saying they would have voted for Alex Bores had he not marched in the Jewish pride parade. He marched with his Jewish wife, who I am positive he is very proud of. Alex isn't anti-Jewish. The performative one issue only voting does nothing to help anyone. It will not sell outside of very big cities, because they don't have the luxury of tolerating the multiple crises caused by Republicans. I still can't afford food, health care, housing, transportation and vacations are out of the question. I hope all the Democrats nationwide realize that being pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian should be only one reason why they vote for a candidate.

[slightlv]

9. You're right Cha... given the repug alternatives...

but if we have a choice to elect an *excellent* democrat, in the style of Mamdami... who truly seems FOR the peoples' good... shouldn't we make that a goal. We've elected so many democrats who have been styled in the "New Democrat" mode of repug-lite financial policies, and it's gotten us very little. They still hold true (more or less) to the social contract of democracy, but we need REAL financial help out here. Some of us are going down for the third time, and may not break the surface again without help...

[orthoclad]

17. More dems can win if

we stop trying to appeal to republicans and bring in the disaffected masses.

The US is 1/3 red, 1/3 blue, and 1/3 other. Do we want to favor red or other?

When people have a choice between imitation republicans and the real thing, the real always wins. Truman said something to this effect, nothing new.

[IronLionZion]

18. We need voters inspired for high turnout

[Geechie]

6. Loved hearing him talk REAL on NPR today

Dem – even DSA – candidates are winning, the Rs try to paint Ds as extremists but can’t defend their positions on affordable health care and housing, Gaza, or basic human rights issues. Meanwhile their cult leader babbles about vandals damaging the Reflecting Pool to distract from Iran, to distract from the Epstein Files, to distract from the total clownshow that is his administration.

[Fil1957]

7. Mamdani has proved progressive politics work in the real world. That is, and has always been the reason the right

and too many mainstream Democrats have opposed him. They've never been worried about him failing, they have been terrified he would succeed.

Since the Reagan revolution a myth has been perpetrated by the right and some centrist Democrats that government is the "enemy".

Sadly they have been very effective in spreading this nonsense. So much so that people I know who are Democrats thought that having free college is not possible. I had to gently remind them that many other countries have it -- and not too many years ago we had in here in the U.S. So, by definition, free college in the U.S. is very possible.

The most successful president this country has ever had, FDR was also the most progressive. It would serve all Democrats and the country well to remember this.

[slightlv]

10. I'd rec you 1000x if I could...

every statement you says echoes what's in my heart and mind!

[mr715]

12. 100%

Broken government can be fixed by... fixing it.

Don't reform a broken clock. Fix it.

[Alpeduez21]

13. What Mamdani has done is camping on promises that poll very well

Then he has FOUGHT for those promises to reach fruition. That is the part that has been lacking. Give me a candidate ether will fight for wages child care transportation housing and healthcare and I will vote for them. Too much of the history of this country has been ‘we can’t do that it will upset the conservatives.’ Makes you look mealy mouthed if you do t back up words with actions

[The Grand Illuminist]

14. Be prepared for them using outside influencers.

I suspect they will have Soviet born, China born and other communist country speakers pervert the messaging. I bet on that.

[Skittles]

15. who is "them"?

[The Grand Illuminist]

19. The opposition, not our side.

Should have been clearer.