Book Excerpt: How Zohran Mamdani's Grassroots Ground Game Came Together

"Given the outcome of the 2025 primary, it may be surprising that the city's DSA chapter only had approximately 6,600 active members in October 2024. As Zohran's campaign gained steam over the next eight months, the group's ranks grew to 8,800. After Mamdani's resounding triumph over Cuomo, the number quickly surpassed 10,000. Shortly after the primary, the victorious candidate sent out a recruiting statement inviting his legions of fans to join the socialist group's local chapter."

"While the NYC-DSA anchored Zohran's dynamic field operation, members of many other activist groups made important contributions. In the summer and early fall of 2024, Zohran met with numerous leaders and organizations to solicit advice and present his vision. As the campaign launched, the grassroots organizations Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), NY Communities for Change (NYCC), CAAAV Voice (CV), and DRUM Beats (DB) declared their support for Zohran."

"From day one, Zohran's initial coalition consisted of pro-Palestine activists (JVP and DSA), anti-poverty organizers (NYCC, CV, DB, DSA), and East Asian tenants (CV), along with South Asian and Indo-Caribbean city residents (DB, CV). Tens of thousands of campaign volunteers, largely from Queens and Brooklyn, shared an affinity with one or more of these viewpoints. Mamdani's platform resonated with working-class voters across the five boroughs. As his primary campaign gathered steam, NYCC helped Zohran gain traction in the city's Black and Spanish-speaking communities."

Zohran Mamdani's campaign coincided with rapid NYC-DSA membership growth from about 6,600 in October 2024 to over 10,000 after the primary. The campaign relied on a dynamic field operation anchored by NYC-DSA and backed by grassroots groups including Jewish Voice for Peace, NY Communities for Change, CAAAV Voice, and DRUM Beats. The initial coalition combined pro-Palestine activists, anti-poverty organizers, East Asian tenants, and South Asian and Indo-Caribbean residents. Tens of thousands of volunteers, largely from Queens and Brooklyn, mobilized for the campaign. NYCC helped the campaign gain traction in Black and Spanish-speaking communities, while Mamdani's platform resonated with working-class voters across all five boroughs. Northwest Queens remained an NYC-DSA stronghold since AOC's 2018 campaign.

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