Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes - Episode 8: "Mamdani's Victory In NYC Sparks IDENTITY CRISIS for Dems"

Release Date: June 25, 2025
Host/Author: The Bulwark
Participants: Sam Stein (Managing Editor), John Avlon, Lauren Egan

Introduction

In Episode 8 of Bulwark Takes, host Sam Stein delves into the surprising and swift outcome of the New York City mayoral primary, where Zoran Mandani secured a decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Joined by political commentator John Avlon and journalist Lauren Egan, Stein explores the implications of Mandani's win for the Democratic Party, potential identity crises within the party, and the broader impact on future elections.

Mandani’s Primary Victory: A Shock to the System

Sam Stein opens the discussion by expressing his surprise at the rapid conclusion of the primary count, highlighting Mandani's overwhelming first-ballot success.

“I had been assuming we'd get a couple days of counts and some uncertainty, but no. Zoran Mandani cleaned up first ballot, just absolutely wiping the floor.”
[00:44]

John Avlon attributes Mandani's success to his energetic and inspiring campaign, bolstered by significant youth volunteer involvement. Avlon emphasizes that Mandani's victory represents a clear rejection of Cuomo, despite Cuomo's extensive executive experience.

“It’s as much a rejection of Cuomo, who had vastly more executive experience... but the fact that Cuomo's team had been leading in the polls until very recently by a wide margin... this is a lot of folks feeling very good on the Democratic left.”
[01:24]

The Dynamics of the Democratic Primary System

The conversation shifts to the structure of New York's closed partisan primaries. Avlon criticizes the exclusion of independent voters, suggesting that open primaries could better reflect the city's diverse electorate.

“With closed partisan primaries... the vast majority of voters haven't spoken yet. And to me, it just more strongly makes the case for why we need open primaries in New York.”
[01:52]

General Election Prospects: Uncertainty Looms

Sam Stein brings up the unique scenario where the sitting mayor, Adams, is running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Slua is also in the race. Avlon highlights the unpredictability of Mandani's ability to maintain his lead in the general election.

“It's not a sure thing at all. We will have a more competitive general than normal, and that is healthy.”
[03:56]

Avlon also speculates on possible strategic moves, such as Adams potentially securing the Republican endorsement, which could further complicate the race.

“Adams may choose to run as an independent with the Republican endorsement. It’s not a foregone conclusion.”
[04:45]

National Implications: A Party Identity Crisis

Transitioning to broader implications, Lauren Egan discusses the national reaction within the Democratic Party. She notes a panic among more moderate members who fear the party might overemphasize a shift to the left, potentially alienating centrists.

“The concern is they really are worried that the party's going to overread this and say, okay, the direction that we should tack in is to the left.”
[05:40]

Egan underscores the importance of learning from Mandani's effective social media strategies without necessarily adopting a more liberal stance.

“But there are members, moderate members of the party that are like, we should take away that lesson. Absolutely. We need to be better online, we need to be better at breaking through.”
[05:40]

The Role of Digital Fluency and Authenticity in Modern Campaigns

Sam Stein probes deeper into Mandani's campaign tactics, exploring whether his success stemmed from heterodox policy positions or his adept use of modern communication platforms.

“...maybe that is sort of, it's very Trumpian in a way... but I’m not comparing them any of these to Trump... you just got to kind of come across as a little bit like heterodox...”
[12:31]

John Avlon responds affirmatively that digital strategies can be learned, though natural affinity and authenticity play significant roles. He cites Mandani's engaging online presence and positive, attention-grabbing style as key factors in his breakthrough.

“The style can be put under sort of a. It’s not just digital first, which it absolutely should be. The Democratic consultant class still enjoys getting their vig on traditional TV ads... authenticity and probably a little bit of charisma that plays into that.”
[08:26]

Lauren Egan adds that Mandani's authenticity and comfort in front of the camera were pivotal. She recounts a personal anecdote where a previously uninformed voter decided to support Mandani after witnessing his engaging campaign video.

“That video was like, it was hard to not, you know, get some feelings watching that video. It was really cool... he clearly doesn’t feel uncomfortable in front of the camera.”
[12:57]

Strategic Moves for Mandani in the General Election

Towards the episode's conclusion, Sam Stein poses a hypothetical scenario where Mandani seeks advice on maintaining his appeal while navigating the challenges of the general election.

John Avlon advises focusing on balancing affordability and quality of life without compromising the city's fiscal health. He warns against policies that could bankrupt the city or reduce the tax base, emphasizing the need for practical solutions alongside ideological commitments.

“Show that you’re not going to have a decrease in crime and decrease in quality of life... show how your plans won't bankrupt the city or decimate the tax base.”
[17:48]

Avlon draws parallels with former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure, highlighting the delicate balance between progressive policies and effective governance.

“It’s about quality of life. It’s also about how you not decimate the, the fiscal base of the city. And it’s more precarious than people think.”
[19:16]

Conclusion: Future Directions for the Democratic Party

The episode wraps up with discussions on the necessity for the Democratic Party to reconnect with independent voters and reconsider its primary system. Lauren Egan anticipates that lessons from Mandani’s campaign will influence upcoming strategies, particularly in leveraging digital platforms without necessarily shifting the party’s ideological stance.

“Politics works... like that... one of the things that we can learn from this is the tactics here clearly worked and that Zoron sort of was really able to break through on social media.”
[13:08]

Sam Stein emphasizes the ongoing nature of these political shifts and teases upcoming content related to lessons moderate Democrats might take from this primary outcome.

“We'll be watching. And Lauren, I'm excited to see your piece which is coming out, uh, today... Thank you guys for watching us on YouTube.”
[19:43]

Key Takeaways

• Zoran Mandani’s Victory: Represents a significant shift within the Democratic primary landscape, highlighting a preference for youthful, authentic candidates over established but beleaguered figures like Andrew Cuomo.

• Primary System Flaws: The closed primary system in New York excludes a large number of independent voters, potentially skewing results and contributing to party disconnects.

• Digital Campaigning: Mandani’s adept use of social media and authentic online presence was crucial to his success, suggesting that the Democratic Party needs to enhance its digital strategies.

• General Election Uncertainties: While Mandani has a strong base, the general election remains competitive with multiple candidates and possible strategic endorsements complicating the race.

• Party Identity Crisis: There is a tension within the Democratic Party between embracing progressive shifts and maintaining appeal to moderates, necessitating a careful balance in future campaigns.

Notable Quotes

• Sam Stein: “Woo.”
  [00:08]

• John Avlon: “Madame cleaned up, but with, you know, 400,000 and change voters in a city with 4 million registered voters.”
  [03:19]

• Lauren Egan: “It was hopeful, it was optimistic. And he just, it sounds like corny to say, but there just is an element of like authenticity.”
  [12:55]

• John Avlon: “Show that you're not going to, while you're dealing with equality, affordability... show that you’re not going to have a decrease in crime.”
  [17:48]

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a comprehensive analysis of the New York City mayoral primary results, exploring the broader implications for the Democratic Party, the importance of digital campaigning, and the challenges ahead for newly elected candidates like Zoran Mandani.