Mamdani says there is ‘absolutely’ a path for a progressive candidate in 2028: Full interview

[0:00] Joining me now for more on the historic midterm elections for Democrats is New York City Mayor [0:05] Zoran Mamdani, who endorsed a number of Democratic candidates throughout this midterm cycle. Mayor, [0:11] thank you so much for joining me. So what's your reaction to last night's results? [0:17] It was an incredible evening. And I think what it showed is that the American people [0:21] are tired of being told that their needs are unrealistic by the very politicians that have [0:26] been bought off by the wealthiest people in the country. And, you know, we heard from J.D. Vance [0:30] asking Americans across the country for two more years. And what those same Americans have said in [0:35] response is they can't afford to wait two more years when their rent is due on the first of the [0:39] month, when they have to pay for their groceries today, when they have to get their kids to child [0:44] care this week. Well, let me ask you, because with the exception of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, [0:50] nearly all of the Democrats' biggest statewide victories were more moderate candidates. [0:56] What do you think that says? And what does it say about the progressive movement? [1:00] Well, I want to push you a little bit on that, Kristen, because when we're thinking about [1:04] James Tallarico, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on universal pre-K. When we're [1:08] talking about Annie Andrews, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on an end to endless [1:13] wars. When we're talking about Keisha Lance Bottoms, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on [1:17] streamlining the construction of affordable housing. And those are all the hallmarks of what [1:21] progressive governance also looks like in this country. And I think it's critically important that when we [1:26] look at these victories, no matter where they are across the United States, that we understand the [1:31] unity of purpose that comes out of it and the urgency of delivering change that Americans can [1:36] feel in their wallets. So, Mayor, given this argument that you're making, do you think there is a path for [1:42] a progressive candidate in the presidential race in 2028? Absolutely. And why? What gives you that [1:50] confidence? We have heard time and again over the 10 months that I've been in office here in New York City [1:56] that what we're doing here can't work elsewhere, that what people are concerned about here isn't what people [2:02] are concerned about across the country. And what we saw last night is that the struggles of Americans in [2:08] Atlanta, of Americans in Allentown, are not all that different than the struggles of Americans in Astoria. [2:14] And that is a reflection of the fact that dignity has to be at the heart of our politics and it has to be at the heart of [2:20] our vision for what comes next, because we've had the debate for a number of years. Now is the time [2:25] for us in the Democratic Party to deliver. And we have to deliver with the same urgency that Americans [2:30] have given us this mandate. Well, what is the mandate? Do you think that Democrats have given [2:35] that voters have given to Democrats? I see it as a mandate to deliver on the cost of living crisis that [2:43] has affected Americans across this country, a mandate to build schools, not bombs, a mandate [2:49] to actually fulfill the trust that has been given to us by working class voters. And that to me [2:54] is a mandate that understands that politics cannot simply be about better managing the decline of [3:00] our country. It has to be about inspiring our country to reach heights that we've never seen [3:04] before. And that comes from a recognition of the fact that what makes this the greatest country in [3:09] the world is the working class people who build it every single day. As you know, there's a big debate [3:14] right now inside the Democratic Party about how far to go when it comes to oversight, investigations, [3:21] and there's a lot of discussion about potentially impeaching President Trump for a third time. Is that [3:26] something that you would support understanding that you're not in the Congress? But is that something [3:31] that ideologically and strategically you would support? Look, I would support our Congress taking action [3:39] that will deliver change in Americans' lives that they can feel in their wallets. And I would also [3:45] support our Congress taking action to confront the corruption that we have seen in Washington for far [3:51] too long. Americans have been voting for a new vision of government, and it's time that we hear that [3:57] and don't try and confine it into just one lane of what that politics must mean. I believe in so many of [4:02] the people elected last night's ability to take action across the board. [4:06] Do you think it could backfire, though, if Democrats do move to impeach President Trump? [4:12] That's not something that I've heard as a plan right now from those who have been speaking up [4:18] over the last 24 hours. What I have heard time and again is how we can move with the urgency of action [4:24] that's been required by the American people. And to me, it is an urgency that speaks about data [4:30] centers. It's an urgency that speaks about tariffs. It's an urgency that speaks about the fact that we have [4:35] continued to fund the violation of international law across so many parts of the world, especially [4:41] when we're looking at Palestine, even when we're looking at Iran. And that is something that needs [4:44] to be confronted. And I'm excited at the fact that we now have the opportunity to do so. [4:49] Well, in order for this Democratic Congress to deliver results, they're going to have to work [4:54] with President Trump because he does have veto power. He's made it very clear he's not afraid [4:59] to use it. You're someone who has worked with President Trump. You've gone to the Oval Office. [5:05] What is your advice to your fellow Democrats about how they can get things done in Washington? [5:11] Well, what I found has been the most productive approach to this relationship has been the fact [5:16] that both the president and I are very open and honest about the immense number of policy [5:20] disagreements that we have. And amidst that, looking for any place of commonality. And when it comes to the [5:25] two of us, that commonality has been the welfare of our city. We've had conversations that have [5:30] allowed us to free New Yorkers from ICE detention to ensure that we were able to get a visa for the [5:37] mother of a New Yorker who was killed here recently. These are the kinds of tangible benefits that can [5:41] be delivered when we're looking for any of those areas of overlap. And I'm looking forward to whatever [5:47] opportunity there is in working with whomever across whatever party line to deliver for working [5:52] people across our city. Do you think that Democrats should take the possibility of a government shutdown [5:56] off the table? In other words, do you think that's sort of the opposite of what people voted for last [6:02] night? I think what people voted for last night is an affirmative vision. And I think what people [6:06] voted for last night is an urgency and an unwillingness to be told to wait any longer. And you can see that [6:13] both in terms of the politics that prevailed and also in terms of the generational change, where we saw a [6:18] number of younger candidates also step forward and say, the time is now to change this kind of a status [6:23] quo. And that is something that excites me. I know there are a lot of these decisions, you know, they're [6:27] going to be in the hands of Congress people, and I trust them to make the right ones. What I will say [6:31] is the mayor of New York City is that we're excited to have partners in the fight to bring dignity back [6:35] into working people's lives. Well, and speaking of one of the issues that the Congress is going to [6:40] address and that your fellow Democrats are going to address in Washington is who is going to be their next [6:46] Speaker of the House. You've said you would support your fellow New Yorker Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. [6:51] You're not going to have a vote, though. Are you going to encourage your fellow Democrats in [6:57] Washington to support him? I'm going to leave the machinations of that to my fellow Democrats in [7:03] Washington. I've been clear about where I stand, and I think that's all they need to hear from me on [7:07] that. And what about Leader Schumer? I think it's the same. There are some decisions that I will leave [7:13] to those in Washington, and I can just be clear about where I stand as the mayor of our [7:17] Do you think they both represent the type of what they have described as generational change [7:23] that voters delivered overnight? I think it all comes from the vision that we put forward. It's [7:28] less about us as individuals. It's more about the agenda that we will now pursue, because power is [7:33] not something that should just be sought to be won. It's something that should be used to actually [7:38] deliver. And that is what we have the opportunity to do today. It is the dawning of a new day, and it's [7:44] up to us to seize it. Let me just ask you one more question. It's been really notable. Vice President [7:50] J.D. Vance had a really long post today, effectively blaming the war with Iran for the election losses [7:59] that Republicans suffered. Do you think trying to end this war should be at the top of Democrats' [8:06] agenda? And how can they go about that? Yes. Yes, it should. It is a war that is not only illegal. [8:13] It is one that should be opposed on political grounds, on economic grounds, on moral grounds. [8:19] And it is something that the American people have spoken up loud and clear about. And I have to say [8:23] that I find it quite ironic to read a post from the vice president as if he's describing the actions [8:29] of a different administration. He's the vice president of the United States of America. [8:33] He is not just some commentator online. And there has to be a reckoning of the fact that this is a war [8:38] that they started. It's a war that they can end. If they think it was a part of their political [8:43] demise, then why don't they actually start to take some action to reflect that? [8:46] All right. Well, Mayor Zoran Mamdani, always appreciate our conversations. Thanks so much [8:50] for joining me on this very busy day after Election Day. [8:53] Thank you so much for having me. Always a pleasure.