With Zohran Mamdani’s resounding victory in New York City’s Democratic primary, the city has reached a pivotal moment in its political history. The impact extends far beyond New York. Cities are again becoming laboratories for a progressive politics that is shattering old norms. The Guardian reports a surge of as many as ten thousand young people showing an interest in running for local offices following Mamdani’s victory. Amanda Litman, the cofounder of the organization Run for Something sees something new, especially for young people. In Mamdani,

they saw a young person who took on the establishment against the odds and was able to center the issues that young people really care about — cost of living, especially housing, childcare, transportation — and talk about it in a way that felt hopeful and made people feel like maybe better things are possible.

This urban political movement has precursors as well. Michelle Wu in Boston and Brandon Johnson in Chicago have carved out new political space attempting to defend the rights of workers, win affordable childcare, and tackle the immense obstacles to providing affordable housing. They face challenges and resistance, but they also bolster the idea that cities can be sites of democratic renewal and cultural and political refuges for besieged immigrants and other persecuted minorities. They affirm that a robust public sector offers equitable and efficient public services to meet people’s most basic needs.