I started to sense that New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was a force to be reckoned with when I saw his man-on-the-street-style videos all over TikTok and Instagram. Democratic disruptor David Hogg stood side-by-side with a smiling Mamdani in a New York City park as they chatted with young fans. Entertainer The Kid Mero and the mayoral candidate dapped up locals in the predominantly Hispanic, low-income Washington Heights. Mamdani vlogged his walking journey from the tip of Manhattan to the bottom, during which he made many pit stops to interact with residents. He was accessible, authentic, cool, and idealistic: all the qualities Generation Z values.
“New Yorkers deserve a mayor they can see, they can hear, they can even yell at,” Mamdani said along the route, a populist message that struck a similar tone to President Donald Trump.
