ABOUT THE SPEECH: First of all: let’s all give Zohran Mamdani his due. He just did the impossible — beat Democratic royalty (the Cuomos), beat the money, beat the machine and then pushed past Trump himself to become the first Muslim mayor of America’s biggest city. That’s a huge accomplishment.
With this upset win, he has already written his name in American history books. And he’s only 34 years old.
The pride and energy you’re seeing from his supporters is hard earned and well-deserved.
That said: I would be remiss if I didn’t flag something I noticed during last night’s victory speech. The Mamdani on stage last night seemed like a different Mamdani than the one who won people over on the campaign trail.
While campaigning, Mamdani was calm, warm, inclusive — the kind of guy who built a big tent that might have a place for everyone. But last night, his tone was sharper. His voice was louder. His rhetoric was harsher. His famous smile and sense of humor were mostly absent.
His many supporters loved it. But others just couldn’t relate.
That was a missed opportunity.
I greatly preferred Mamdani’s FIRST victory speech — the one he gave when he first upset Cuomo and burst onto the global stage this summer. It was brilliant, warm, sunny, inviting. If he goes back to that mode — the world could be his oyster.
Fortunately, as he continues to make history, Mamdani will have many, many more speeches to give