Zohran Mamdani, the Communist terror sympathizer about to become NYC mayor.
Photo courtesy of Bingjiefu He, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist, has been called a communist by his competitors. The truth is, the Democratic Socialists of America’s platform is essentially akin to communism. Mamdani’s advocacy for democratic socialism aligns closely with communist ideologies, posing a threat to individual liberty and economic freedom.

The DSA’s charter outlines a vision of socialism centered on collective control of resources and production. It advocates for economic planning, equitable distribution, and the abolition of systemic domination based on race, religion, or gender.

Specifically, the charter calls for ending capitalist exploitation, describing U.S. capitalism as rooted in the enslavement of Black people and the genocide of Indigenous people. In 2023, the DSA reported 78,000 members nationwide, with its New York City chapter—closely associated with Mamdani—claiming over 7,000 members.

The charter’s language, such as overcoming the “parasitic death-drive of capitalism,” mirrors rhetoric from The Communist Manifesto, which famously concludes: “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!” This parallel fuels concerns that democratic socialism serves as a rebranded entry point to communism.

In Venezuela, the socialist policies of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro led to a 62% GDP decline from 2013 to 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund. Hyperinflation reached 1.7 million percent by 2018, rendering the bolívar nearly worthless. Over 7 million Venezuelans—20% of the population—fled the country by 2023, per the United Nations.

“I’m fighting Zohran Mamdani and the rise of socialism in New York because this is about much more than politics — it’s about the survival of a free society,” said Brandon Straka, founder of the #WalkAway movement.

Similarly, Cuba’s communist regime, established in 1959, resulted in a GDP per capita of $9,100 in 2022, compared to $70,600 in the United States, according to the World Bank.

In a private interview with Alan Dershowitz, he said, “People who lived through Russian communism, Cuban socialism, or Venezuelan collapse would never vote for him.”

The Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991, saw 14.5 million deaths from starvation and purges under Stalin’s regime, as documented by historian Robert Conquest. These examples illustrate the economic collapse and authoritarianism often associated with communist systems.

“History is very clear about what comes next. Socialism doesn’t stop with lofty promises — it moves into authoritarianism. The next step is communism. We’ve seen it over and over: in Cuba, in Venezuela, in the Soviet Union,” Straka said.

In a public statement, Mamdani acknowledged that “globalizing Intifada” means different things to different people, including, for some, a call to violence against Jews.

“He claims he doesn’t support violence, but he won’t condemn slogans that some interpret as calls to kill Jews,” Dershowitz said.

Straka and Dershowitz argue that Mamdani represents a broader radicalization, especially among younger generations. A 2025 YouGov poll found that 43% of Americans aged 18–29 view socialism favorably, compared to only 13% of those over 65.

This generational divide reflects limited exposure to socialism’s historical failures. Dershowitz emphasizes that survivors of Russian communism, Cuban socialism, or the Venezuelan collapse—such as the 1.5 million Cuban Americans in the U.S., per the 2020 Census—overwhelmingly reject candidates like Mamdani.

These communities, having experienced centralized control firsthand, warn of its dangers.

New York cannot survive under Zohran Mamdani’s vision of top-down control, failed socialism, and anti-merit extremism. That’s why I’m proud to stand with Brandon Straka—and thousands of New Yorkers from every background—to speak out before it’s too late.

No matter your race, religion, or politics, this fight belongs to all of us. If you care about New York—if you care about America—then join us in helping this city #WalkAway from Mamdani.