How MAGA and “Progressivism” Obscure the Struggle for Socialism

Article by the Editorial Board of "New Worker", official publication of the Communist Workers Platform USA (CWPUSA):  

In recent weeks, the Democratic Socialists of America has claimed a handful of electoral “victories.” In New York’s 7th and 13th Districts covering Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated the Democratic Party old guard in the primaries. In Colorado’s 1st District, Melat Kiros unseated 15-term incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette. These candidates have run on common platforms such as Medicare For All, Abolish Ice, Ending War, Housing for All, and Unions for All.

Communist Workers Platform USA: Statement on Zohran Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Victory

CWPUSA Central Committee Statement on Zohran Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Victory

On Tuesday, 4 November 2025, a cargo plane at UPS Worldport crashed into the facility during takeoff. 9 people have been confirmed killed while many remain missing. 

The death toll will likely continue to rise, adding to the pile of workers killed by the cold calculus of capitalism where safety always takes a backseat to profit. That same evening, Zohran Mamdani claimed victory in the New York City Mayoral election. 

Socialist Rhetoric, Capitalist Reality: Why Mamdani’s Victory Won’t Transform the System

By Nathan Richardson*

The June 2025 Democratic primary in New York shocked many on the U.S. left. Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo to secure the party’s nomination for mayor. Supporters quickly declared the result a major breakthrough for the socialist movement. However, this development is less a victory than it is a reflection of a broader contradiction facing the U.S. left: the attempt to reconcile socialist rhetoric with participation in a party fundamentally loyal to capital.

The Mamdani Moment and the Crisis of the “Left”

On June 24, 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. His defeat of the Democratic Party old guard Andrew Cuomo has been hailed as a victory for socialism in America. Social media has been flooded with celebration. DSA apparatchiks are gloating. The only real victory was for the illusion that the system can be reformed.

Mamdani is a gifted politician. He has spoken courageously on Palestine, organized tenants and workers into his voting base, and has roots in the popular sectors. However, he is still a part of the machinery of the Democratic Party: a party of landlords, war profiteers, billionaires, the ruling capitalist class.