Democrats appear to be panicking as they scramble to distance themselves from New York City’s radical socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
The divide in the Democratic Party has just widened even further as Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) publicly distanced himself from Mamdani.
Smith declared that the far-left candidate is not “speaking for our party.”
Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, has stirred controversy with his extreme views on private property and Israel.
With New York City’s mayoral race heating up, moderate Democrats are increasingly alarmed by Mamdani’s rise to prominence.
Smith, speaking on Fox News Sunday, took direct aim at Mamdani, trying to rein in his influence and solidify the Democratic Party’s mainstream positions.
“Look, the mayor of New York has never, never, ever been the leader of the Democratic Party,” Smith stated when asked about Mamdani’s growing prominence.
He emphasized the “Big Tent” nature of his party, but insisted that Mamdani does not represent the Democrats’ ideals.
“Mamdani isn’t speaking for our party, any more than I’m speaking for our party,” Smith said, attempting to downplay Mamdani’s influence.
He reiterated that the Democratic Party is a broad coalition with a diverse range of opinions, but pointed out that Mamdani’s extreme positions do not align with the moderate values many within the party uphold.
Smith also took the opportunity to pivot toward attacking President Donald Trump on his immigration policies, claiming Trump’s ICE raids were ineffective and had turned communities against him.
However, the focus remained on distancing the Democratic Party from Mamdani’s radical communist positions, particularly his views on Israel.
The controversy surrounding Mamdani is further intensified by his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a call for violent action against Israel, and his dismissal of Israel as a Jewish state.
Jewish Democrats have expressed outrage over his failure to reject these views, with several leading figures in the party speaking out against him.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) sharply criticized Mamdani for his refusal to condemn the inflammatory phrase, calling it a “callous disregard for antisemitism and terrorist activity.”
“Anyone that I care about couldn’t possibly distance themselves from him more,” Wasserman Schultz said, emphasizing the dangerous implications of Mamdani’s position. She warned that his stance could fuel antisemitism and lead to violence.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) joined the criticism, accusing Mamdani of either “ignoring or gaslighting the public” when he attempted to explain the phrase “globalize the intifada” as “a peaceful call.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) echoed these sentiments, saying that if Mamdani cannot acknowledge the antisemitic nature of his statements, he will only escalate the problem rather than diffuse it.
As Mamdani continues to rise in the polls, his radical agenda is becoming a lightning rod for conflict within the Democratic Party.
While progressive leaders are quick to support him, many moderates and Jewish Democrats are sounding the alarm about the implications of his views, particularly on Israel and private property.
Smith’s remarks and the growing backlash from within the Democratic Party reflect the deepening divide between the far-left and moderate factions.
Mamdani’s positions on issues like the “abolition of private property” and his pro-terrorist rhetoric are increasingly at odds with the mainstream party’s values.
As the mayoral race heats up, it’s clear that Zohran Mamdani’s candidacy is becoming a flashpoint for the Democratic Party, raising tough questions about the party’s future direction and whether it will continue to be a home for radical ideologies or revert to its more center-left roots.
With the Democratic Party already struggling to unite its diverse factions, Mamdani’s rise only deepens the internal conflict.
How the party handles this growing rift may be one of the defining issues of the next election cycle.
For now, moderate Democrats seem determined to prevent Zohran Mamdani from speaking for them, but the question remains: will they be able to stop him?
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.