Mayor-Elect Mamdani Faces Early Challenge Keeping DSA Coalition United

Tensions emerge as progressive mayor backs Brad Lander over DSA favorite Alexa Avilés in congressional race

Cracks Appear in Progressive Coalition

Just two weeks into his transition, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is discovering that governing requires difficult choices that can alienate even close allies. The Democratic Socialists of America member who rode a wave of progressive enthusiasm to City Hall now finds himself crosswise with the very organization that powered his historic victory.

According to City & State New York, Mamdani has privately told several sources that he would support former Comptroller Brad Lander in a potential primary challenge against Rep. Dan Goldman. This decision has irked the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which has endorsed City Council Member Alexa Avilés for the same race.

The Lander-Avilés Dilemma

The situation presents a political minefield for Mamdani. Brad Lander, who served as city comptroller and cross-endorsed Mamdani during the mayoral campaign, has been explicitly told he will not have a place in the incoming administration. The endorsement of Lander’s congressional bid appears to be Mamdani’s attempt to provide an alternative path for his former ally while maintaining party unity.

However, this strategic calculation has created friction with NYC-DSA, the grassroots organization that provided crucial volunteer infrastructure for Mamdani’s campaign. The organization announced to members in an email that they had “voted to ratify” their endorsement of Avilés, setting up a potential battle between two progressive candidates–with Mamdani backing the one his core supporters oppose.

In what some interpreted as a pointed gesture, NYC-DSA chose a photograph for their endorsement announcement that shows Avilés with Mamdani clapping in the background. “It’s very surprising and it doesn’t make sense,” one longtime DSA member told City & State. “I think [Mamdani’s] just making moves and expecting people to fall in line because he’s the supposed prince of the left.”

The Jessica Tisch Controversy

Mamdani’s decision to retain billionaire NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has also caused consternation among criminal justice reformers and some DSA members. Tisch, an heiress to one of New York’s wealthiest families, has faced criticism for her approach to policing and her documented cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

As detailed by journalist Spencer Ackerman, Tisch’s NYPD provided sealed arrest records to ICE in the case of Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia, who has been held in a Texas detention facility since March. This collaboration occurred despite New York’s sanctuary city laws, raising questions about how Tisch’s NYPD will handle the anticipated surge in ICE activity under the Trump administration.

The Ossé-Jeffries Primary Question

Another source of tension involves Council Member Chi Ossé’s rumored primary challenge to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader. While some NYC-DSA members support such a challenge–Ossé was scheduled to speak at a candidate forum with the organization–Mamdani has signaled increasing opposition to the idea.

According to The New York Times, Mamdani went so far as to disinvite Ossé from his election night party after the council member had worked to get him elected. This decision appears calculated to maintain good relations with Jeffries, who reluctantly endorsed Mamdani in late October and remains popular in his district.

Navigating Political Reality

These early conflicts illustrate the challenge facing any progressive politician who achieves significant power: balancing ideological purity with political pragmatism. Mamdani campaigned as a democratic socialist promising transformative change, but governing New York City requires building coalitions across the Democratic Party’s ideological spectrum.

The political dynamics are complex. Mamdani needs Governor Kathy Hochul’s support for his tax-the-rich agenda and cannot afford to alienate establishment Democrats who control key levers of power in Albany. At the same time, abandoning the grassroots movement that elected him risks demobilizing the very activists he’ll need for future battles.

DSA’s Growing Political Influence

The tensions also reflect DSA’s evolution from a marginal organization to a significant force in New York City politics. The organization now represents multiple officials at every level of government in certain districts, most notably in Astoria, which has been dubbed the “People’s Republic of Astoria” for being represented by democratic socialists in the City Council, State Assembly, State Senate, and Congress.

DSA’s success in Mamdani’s mayoral race–mobilizing thousands of volunteers for door-knocking, phone banking, and voter outreach–has given the organization confidence to pursue an ambitious electoral strategy. Several DSA-aligned candidates have already filed campaigns in other districts, including Mahtab Khan challenging Assemblymember David Weprin and Aber Kawas running for District 34.

The Path Forward

How Mamdani navigates these relationships will significantly impact his ability to implement his agenda. If he loses DSA’s enthusiastic support, he may struggle to mobilize grassroots pressure for his progressive policies. However, if he appears too beholden to DSA, he risks alienating moderate Democrats whose support he needs in Albany and in the City Council.

The mayor-elect’s team has not publicly addressed these tensions, maintaining focus on the transition process and preparation for taking office on January 1. But these early controversies suggest that Mamdani’s mayoralty will require constant negotiation between competing progressive and establishment interests.

As one political observer noted, learning “how not to please everyone” may be the first and most important lesson of Mamdani’s transition to power.