Self-proclaimed socialist Katie Wilson won the race for Seattle mayor in a stunning upset this week without earning the endorsement of America’s de facto socialist party, the same political force credited with aiding New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s decisive victory.

Against the odds, Wilson narrowly beat Democratic incumbent Bruce Harrell by a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes, following a final count of mail-in ballots on Wednesday. On the campaign trail, Wilson thought of replicating Mamdani’s campaign strategy to squeeze out a win.