Will it be Mamdani's city council?

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Believe it or not, nearly all socialist regimes, even the most infamous, have had legislative branches.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) had the Supreme Soviet. Cuba has the National Assembly of the People’s Power. China has the National People’s Congress. North Korea has the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Even Nazi Germany, which was a socialist government according to its German name (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), which translates to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, had the Reichstag.

Of course, these bodies are and were “legislatures” in name only. Actually, they act and acted more like rubber stamps for whoever is or was in charge of the “executive branch.”

Given this dynamic between the legislative and executive branch under socialist governments for the past century, I wonder how this will play out in the socialist enclave of New York City?

On January 1, 2026, in his inaugural speech, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani declared, “My fellow New Yorkers -- today begins a new era… Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously.”

“I will govern as a Democratic socialist,” the new mayor professed, as he promised to “freeze the rent,” “make buses fast and free,” and “deliver universal childcare for the many by taxing the wealthiest few.”

Unlike Stalin, Castro, and most other socialist leaders, Mamdani faces a potential hurdle in the legislative body by which he must receive approval from before his socialist agenda can be implemented: the New York City Council.

I say potential because there are some concerning signs that the New York City Council might not put up much of a fight when it comes to approving Mamdani’s socialist policies.

On its website, the New York City Council states, “Similar to Congress at the federal level, we are New York City’s legislative body. The Council is separate from the Mayor’s administration but an equal partner in how our City is run.”

While that is certainly reassuring, it does not dispel my fears that the council and mayor’s office are too close for comfort.

The New York City Council has 51 districts across the five boroughs, representing a total population of approximately 8.5 million.

As of now, Democrats hold 46 of the 51 seats on the council.

In 2024, President Trump received 30 percent of the NYC vote yet Republicans hold six of the 51 seats on the New York City Council. That alone worries me.

What worries me much more is that Council Speaker Julie Menin seems very excited to endorse Mamdani’s socialist vision.

“We all have an exceptional opportunity and, I would argue, an attendant obligation, to take the Council into a new era, a proactive era, an era of initiative and ingenuity,” Menin said after receiving the speakership on a unanimous vote.

Menin has already pledged to work with Mamdani on universal childcare. On January 13, she stated, “The Council looks forward to working with the Governor and our leaders in Albany on implementing universal childcare in the five boroughs.”

It seems like the debate over universal childcare is already over in NYC. So, what will happen when Mamdani presses for “rent control,” “free buses,” and the many other socialist policies he promised to fight for?

Will the New York City Council bend to Mamdani’s will and wishes? Or will the New York City Council become an insurmountable hurdle that halts the Mamdani socialist train in its tracks?

I bet it will be a little of both with a bias toward the former.

Chris Talgo ([email protected]) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.

Image: AT via Magic Studio