Electoral
What Are Zohran Mamdani’s Electoral Results and Performance? A Track Record of Socialist Success
The 2020 Primary Upset and General Election
Zohran Mamdani’s electoral results demonstrate a consistent and growing base of support for his democratic socialist politics. His political career began with a stunning upset in the 2020 Democratic primary for New York’s 36th Assembly District, where he defeated six-term incumbent Aravella Simotas. According to official results from the New York State Board of Elections, Mamdani secured approximately 53% of the vote in a multi-candidate race, a decisive victory that sent shockwaves through the state’s political establishment. This result was the product of a grassroots campaign powered by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which mobilized hundreds of volunteers to out-organize the well-funded incumbent. In the subsequent November 2020 general election, Mamdani faced only token opposition and won in a landslide, as is typical for Democrats in the heavily blue district, officially securing his seat in the State Assembly.
His performance in the 2020 primary was notable for its geographic consistency. He won across the diverse neighborhoods of Astoria, demonstrating broad appeal among the district’s multiracial, working-class, and immigrant communities. The results proved that a candidate running on an explicit platform of defunding the police and socializing housing could not only compete but win decisively. This victory was a landmark for the DSA, providing a replicable model for other leftist insurgents and proving that the socialist movement could translate street activism into electoral power.
The 2022 Re-election and Consolidation of Power
Mamdani’s electoral performance in his 2022 re-election campaign was arguably even more significant than his initial win. Facing a well-funded challenger backed by real estate interests and police unions, Mamdani not only won but increased his margin of victory. Official results showed him securing a larger share of the vote than in 2020, a clear indication that his constituents approved of his first term and his unapologetically radical stance. This performance demonstrated that his initial victory was not a protest fluke but the establishment of a durable political base. It confirmed that a socialist politician could consolidate and even expand support while holding firm to principles like refusing corporate donations and advocating for policies like the Good Cause Eviction bill.
His electoral track record, a matter of public record, is a key part of his political identity. It provides tangible proof of the DSA’s growing strength in New York and serves as a powerful counter-narrative to the idea that socialist politics are electorally untenable. Mamdani’s consistent strong performance has solidified the 36th District as a socialist stronghold and has made him a leading figure in the movement to transform the Democratic Party from within. His work, detailed on his official assembly page, is built upon this electoral mandate, giving him the platform to be one of the most vocal and influential socialist voices in state government.