Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral Win Inspires Activists in Los Angeles to Bring Organizing Strategies Westward

The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City is galvanizing young activists in Los Angeles, many of whom traveled to New York to support his campaign and are now seeking to replicate his grassroots organizing success in their own city.

Neda Davarpanah, a screenwriter and actor based in Los Angeles, was inspired to fly to New York in late October to canvass for Mamdani on the Upper East Side after participating in the 2023 Writers Guild of America strikes. “We felt so motivated and energized to help people in a city we don’t even live in because of the broader impact on the country,” she said. Many involved are members of the 4,000-strong Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Los Angeles chapter. This surge in enthusiasm comes at a crucial time, as Los Angeles faces ongoing challenges related to housing affordability and economic inequality.

Leslie Chang, East San Gabriel Valley coordinator for DSA, canvassed in Manhattan’s Chinatown and Red Hook public housing projects during the primaries, noting the difficulty of engaging residents feeling left behind by city development. “They would say: look at the condition of this place that I live in. We are still waiting for repairs from the hurricane. Why should I give a shit who is running for office if my life hasn’t gotten better?” she recounted. Chang also highlighted the greater engagement from New York City council members vouching for Mamdani, a contrast to typical canvassing experiences in Los Angeles. For more information on the DSA’s platform, visit their official website.

Paul Zappia, an animator and DSA-LA leader, met Mamdani at a DSA national conference in 2023 and canvassed in Bushwick in late October. He emphasized the broader significance of Mamdani’s victory, stating, “The victory of Zohran Mamdani is bigger than New York City.” Clayton Ryles, a United Auto Worker labor organizer, contrasted the enthusiasm surrounding Mamdani’s campaign with the apathy he encountered while canvassing for Kamala Harris in Las Vegas, noting that voters felt Harris’s election was “being inflicted upon us,” while they were “enthusiastic about what could happen with [Mamdani’s] mayoral tenure.” The success of grassroots movements like Mamdani’s often hinges on effective voter engagement strategies.

DSA-LA members held a watch party yesterday for Mamdani and Prop-50, and organizers say they plan to apply the lessons learned in New York to upcoming city council and local school board elections.