Hours after Zohran Mamdani’s performance in New York City’s Democratic primary electrified national politics, Adams painted the 33-year-old democratic socialist as an entitled and inexperienced lawmaker trying to hoodwink New Yorkers with unrealistic campaign proposals. “This is a city not of socialism,” Adams said.

Both candidates seek to remake Democratic politics in fundamentally different visions. But the Democratic mayor isn't running as a Democrat.

Ahead of a battle in the 2026 midterm elections, the GOP has found its new poster child for the “radical left.”