Europe's left is taking notes on Mamdani's successful campaign for New York mayor

"Newspapers across Europe ran analyses and commentaries about it, and left-wing politicians in Europe took heart from the success of the 34-year-old American democratic socialist. "Echoes of hope" beyond the U.S. Claire Lejeune, a member of parliament from France's left-wing France Unbowed party, tells NPR Mamdani's victory was a "beacon of hope." "Its message echoes not only in the U.S., but also for us in France," Lejeune says. Her party sent members to New York to study Mamdani's winning ways on the campaign trail."

"In the United Kingdom, Mamdani's victory is even influencing a mayoral race in the seaside region of Sussex and Brighton. The election has now been postponed until May 2028. But a recent a campaign leaflet for the Green Party features two faces that of the local party candidate, Rachel Millward, and another of New York City's mayor-elect with the words "Hope can win." New York just elected @ZohranKMamdani, who offers real hope, over billionaire funded opponents. In May Sussex & Brighton will face a similar choice between real hope and real change with a @TheGreenParty mayor or a big money backed Reform mayor with no real plan for the future."

"The Green Party's national leader, Zack Polanski, has been called charismatic and social media savvy by the British media, with some commentators now asking whether he could be the "British Mamdani." Smiley and upbeat, 43-year-old Polanski has made "Let's make hope normal again" his central message. Polanski has helped the Green Party double its membership and perform much better in public opinion polls, rivaling big establishment parties such as the governing center-left Labour Party and the center-right Conservatives."

Zohran Mamdani won New York City's mayoral race as a 34-year-old democratic socialist. Newspapers across Europe covered the result and left-wing politicians welcomed the outcome. France Unbowed MP Claire Lejeune described the victory as a "beacon of hope" and sent party members to study Mamdani's campaign. In the United Kingdom Mamdani's win influenced a mayoral contest in Sussex and Brighton where a Green Party leaflet used his image and the slogan "Hope can win." Green leader Zack Polanski has emphasized hopeful messaging, increased membership, and improved poll performance against major parties.

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