🚨 NYC DSA’s Albany Ambition Slips Out on Their First Call Since Mamdani’s Win
On last night’s NYC DSA Zoom call, the first since Mamdani’s victory, Jamaal Bowman said the quiet part out loud. He urged members to build an “organizing infrastructure, ecosystem and machine that helps to decide the next big statewide race, which is the governor’s race next year.”
Most of Mamdani’s agenda is budgetary. To enact it, NYC DSA needs both the governor and enough legislative power to pass and fund it through Albany’s budget process.
But here is their problem. The only person in their orbit who could seriously challenge Hochul is AOC. And NYC DSA has never had the smoothest relationship with her.
AOC is the only figure with the name recognition, the national fundraising base, and the movement pull to make a real statewide run. And she may be looking past Albany entirely, with growing talk of a 2028 presidential bid.
If she skips it, NYC DSA has no viable contender. If they want the governor’s mansion, their entire path still runs through AOC.