New York City — “Focus, focus, focus on affordability.” This is the message that Robert Wood, a 47-year-old writer and lead volunteer for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, emphasizes as the campaign enters its final phase in the closely watched New York City race.
Mamdani’s unexpected win in the June Democratic primary and his current lead in the polls ahead of the November 4 election have drawn attention far beyond the city’s five boroughs. His campaign has come to symbolize a challenge to the traditional Democratic establishment, which has long been influenced by wealthy donors. For many, it represents a potential shift in liberal politics, especially in an era marked by the presidency of Donald Trump.
However, for this movement to achieve broader success, Mamdani must first secure a seat in City Hall. This requires extensive grassroots efforts, particularly door-to-door outreach, which remains a central strategy for the campaign.
In Crown Heights, a neighborhood where Mamdani and his top opponent, Andrew Cuomo, split the primary vote, volunteers are working diligently. On a windswept October day, Nadia, a local resident, expressed her support for Mamdani, stating she is fully committed to the cause. Wood urged others to ensure their friends and families participate in the voting process, emphasizing that a strong mandate would bolster Mamdani’s ambitious policy agenda, including rent freezes for stabilized apartments, free public transportation, and universal childcare for children under five—funded through higher taxes on corporations and the wealthiest residents.
These policies will require cooperation from state lawmakers and the governor, making the political landscape complex. At a pre-war rent-stabilized apartment building nearby, another man expressed uncertainty about supporting Mamdani. Wood highlighted the candidate’s commitment to freezing rents in similar buildings, which make up a significant portion of the city’s housing stock. The man, though polite, remained undecided.
Further down the street, Wood met Onika Saul, a 45-year-old property manager. She expressed concerns that Mamdani’s promises might lack realism. “Anyone can say anything, but action always speaks louder than words,” she said, reflecting on past disappointments with politicians and their unfulfilled commitments.
Despite her reservations, Wood emphasized Mamdani’s record as a state assemblyman, including his participation in a taxi worker hunger strike and his arrest during a protest against U.S. funding for the war in Gaza. He also noted that Mamdani has relied on small donations, contrasting him with Cuomo, whose campaign has been supported by large contributions from business and real estate leaders.
Another key issue in the race is Mamdani’s vocal support for Palestinian rights, a stance that is rare among mainstream U.S. politicians. “Zohran is certainly the only politician in the race who will call what’s happening [in Gaza], what it is: a genocide,” Wood said. Saul agreed, adding, “It is a genocide.”
Although Saul still has reservations—since Mamdani’s main pledges do not directly apply to her—she said she is willing to give his vision a chance and cast her vote. “I feel better about him,” she said, “but it’s still the whole seeing is believing thing.”
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