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Political instability is rife across the world today. The US and the UK, both long considered pillars of democracy, are now backsliding, as signified by a global index of corruption. In times of uncertainty such as these, citizens look to politicians to repair our systems and provide us with reassurance and stability. So, in this context, why is the success of charismatic politicians like Zohran Mamdani so important?
In November 2025, Mamdani won 50.78% of the vote in the New York City mayoral election and began his term as mayor in January 2026. At just 34, Mamdani is the youngest to hold office since 1892 and is New York’s first Muslim and Asian American mayor. In a Trump era, how did he capture the hearts and minds of New York citizens?
Political charisma is often perceived as subjective and elusive. It is not an inherent trait that one either possesses or lacks. Rather, it describes a relationship that is formed between a politician and their electorate, a relationship built when a leader appears to provide solutions to pressing problems while helping voters feel recognised and understood. Charisma is therefore fleeting, selective, and therefore reliant on perception. Those on the right might believe Nigel Farage is charismatic and personable, whereas those on the left would say he is far from it. Political charisma is less a tangible trait and more a reflection of the relationship an electoral candidate has with the voters.
Mamdani’s campaign was successful because he positioned himself among the voters. Last year, after walking the length of Manhattan, he tweeted, “New Yorkers deserve a Mayor they can see, hear, even yell at. The city is in the streets”. His tweets often follow this pattern, painting him as a man of the people, thereby strengthening the relational bond that underpins political charisma.
However, it is not only the content of his tweets, but the fact that Mamdani used social media, a political platform of the youth, to mobilise his campaign. Through TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, he posted humorous and relatable videos. A widely shared video showed him participating in the Polar bear plunge on Coney Island in New York, whereby he ran into the freezing ocean in a suit, and said, “I’m freezing… your rent”. By addressing serious problems that voters face, through these platforms and turns of phrase, Mamdani translated policy into personality. He manipulated his image to show he was more than a politician, but a person with the same concerns as his constituents.
New York is a historically blue state, favouring the Democrats since 1988. Under Republican Donald Trump, tensions between national and state politics intensified, with New Yorkers expressing that Trump’s federal policies could “worsen life for Americans”. Alongside the ideological contrast between state politics and national politics, New York was facing a multitude of problems. New York City’s cost of living is “139% higher than the national average”, the rent prices are at an all-time high, and crime rates are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Mamdani, positioned as a beacon of hope, promised to solve the problems that New York City’s citizens are facing.
Not only was it the fact that he was addressing problems via social media, using the language and stage of the youth, but he was also addressing the problems close to New York’s heart.
While Trump describes Mamdani as a communist, it is far more accurate to describe him as a “Scandinavian social democrat” due to his advocacy of stronger public services and housing reforms within a democratic framework.
Mamdani’s victory symbolises that political charisma is not tangible. It is about connection.
In an era of instability, polarisation and economic anxiety, he forged a meaningful relationship with voters that made them feel seen and heard. This relationship he crafted is the key to his success.
Edited by Kira Purewal
‘Zohran Mamdani at the Resist Fascism Rally in Bryant Park’, by Bingjiefu He, Oct 27th 2024 // CC BY-SA
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