New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told Rolling Stone Magazine on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that the Democratic Party has become "run by well-paid consultants and big money interests." This comment came during an interview where Mamdani was asked about former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Jaime Harrison's criticism of socialist candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), who defeated incumbent politicians in a primary election last month despite previously attacking the party.

Harrison wrote on X that if candidates "hate the Democratic Party," they should not seek its nomination or ask Democrats to invest in their campaigns, emphasizing that political parties are built by millions of people who work for shared values. He criticized the focus on socialist candidates who "hate the Democratic Party."

In response, Mamdani acknowledged that while the party may have effectively become controlled by consultants and big money interests, it still reflects what many Democrats want to see. He emphasized that the Democratic Party needs to be beholden to voters who have expressed support for socialist candidates.

Mamdani has previously criticized the Democratic Party for having "lost its focus on working people" and has advocated for more efforts to address high prices.

Sources