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Several Democratic Socialists Vie for Mamdani’s Assembly Seat Following His Mayoral Victory
Multiple members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are positioning themselves to fill the New York State Assembly seat being vacated by Zohran Mamdani, who recently made headlines by winning New York City’s mayoral race at age 34.
Rana Abdelhamid, an Egyptian American Muslim community organizer, has officially filed to run for Assembly District 36, which covers the Astoria neighborhood in western Queens, according to state Board of Elections records. Meanwhile, DSA leadership has recruited former Queens DSA co-chair Diana Moreno for the race, while local reports indicate that Mary Jobaida, who previously ran for a neighboring district, may also enter the contest.
The race underscores the growing political influence of the DSA in New York City politics. The New York City chapter, with more than 11,200 members, is the largest in the country and includes prominent figures such as Mamdani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, who represents the Astoria neighborhood.
Abdelhamid brings significant experience to her campaign. She previously challenged then-Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a 2022 primary but withdrew after district boundaries were redrawn to exclude Queens. She has deep connections to Astoria’s Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) community, growing up in an area nicknamed “Little Egypt.” Her advocacy includes successfully pushing for improved state demographic data collection on MENA communities and founding Malikah, a women’s self-defense organization.
Moreno appears to be the frontrunner for the official DSA endorsement, according to sources familiar with the organization’s plans. She served as co-chair of NYC-DSA’s Queens branch from 2021 to 2023 and as the organization’s communications coordinator from 2023 to 2024. She also brings experience as the former deputy director of New Immigrant Community Empowerment, an immigrant advocacy group.
“I’m preparing to run for Zohran’s Assembly seat so our future mayor has an unwavering ally in Albany committed to helping him deliver an affordable NYC!” Moreno recently posted on Instagram. “As a Queens mom, an immigrant organizer, and a democratic socialist, I’m ready to fight for the working people of Queens!”
Moreno initially declined when approached by the DSA to run, citing concerns about traveling to Albany while raising a young child. She later changed her position, citing what she described as the Trump administration’s “rising authoritarianism” and a desire to deliver for working families in the district. She has identified free and universal child care as her top legislative priority and has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations throughout the city.
The competition for Mamdani’s seat represents another chapter in the DSA’s expanding influence in New York politics. The organization has strategically built a network of elected officials in the city, with Mamdani’s mayoral victory marking their most significant political achievement to date. His unexpected rise from state assemblyman to mayor-elect has energized the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in New York.
Assembly District 36 has become a stronghold for democratic socialist politics in recent years. Mamdani first won the seat in 2020, defeating a longtime incumbent in the Democratic primary. The district’s demographics, with its diverse immigrant communities and younger residents facing housing affordability challenges, have proven receptive to the DSA’s policy platform focused on tenant protections, universal healthcare, and progressive taxation.
The special election to fill Mamdani’s seat will likely take place in early 2025, following his inauguration as mayor in January. The winner will need to navigate the complexities of state politics in Albany while maintaining strong connections to the district’s grassroots progressive movement that helped elevate Mamdani to citywide office.
Political observers note that whoever wins the seat will face high expectations from both the DSA and local constituents to continue Mamdani’s progressive policy agenda while serving as a key ally to the new mayor’s administration.
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8 Comments
This race highlights the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists in New York City politics. It will be interesting to see how the different candidates position themselves and appeal to voters in the Astoria district.
The Democratic Socialists have certainly been making waves in NYC politics in recent years. I’m curious to see how this race plays out and whether the DSA-backed candidates can maintain their momentum.
Rana Abdelhamid seems like an impressive candidate with strong community ties. The DSA’s recruitment of Diana Moreno also suggests they are taking this race seriously. It will be worth following to see how the different contenders position themselves.
It’s interesting to see the DSA-backed candidates positioning themselves in this race. Their performance could be an indicator of the party’s appeal and viability in the Astoria district.
This race is certainly one to watch, given the DSA’s growing influence in New York City politics. The different candidates’ platforms and messaging will be worth analyzing to understand the dynamics at play.
This race highlights the ideological divides within the Democratic Party in New York. It will be interesting to see how the different candidates frame their positions and appeal to voters.
The Democratic Socialists have certainly made their mark in New York City, and this race is a good example of that. I’ll be curious to see how the candidates’ platforms and messaging resonate with voters in Astoria.
The growing influence of the Democratic Socialists in New York City politics is certainly notable. This race will be a test of their ability to translate their organizational strength into electoral success at the district level.