By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 12:48 PM EST
Republicans have intensified efforts to frame Democrats as extremists by linking the victory of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to a broader “socialist takeover” of the party. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has launched digital ads in 49 competitive House districts, warning that Democrats “share Mamdani’s vision” of defunding police and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The messaging campaign follows President Donald Trump’s 2024 election, which returned Republicans to the White House. Conservatives argue Mamdani’s win in deep-blue New York provides a rallying point against what they describe as Democratic extremism. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), urged donors to combat the “Mamdani-Schumer wing of the Democratic Party,” claiming socialism now dominates the party.
The NRCC’s polling highlighted Mamdani’s 81% name recognition and unfavorable ratings in swing districts, positioning his election as a national liability for Democrats ahead of 2026. Republicans aim to tie every Democrat to Mamdani’s agenda, creating a unified narrative from suburban Wisconsin to New York’s Hudson Valley.
While Democrats publicly congratulated Mamdani—marking his historic win as the first Muslim and avowed socialist to lead New York City—many moderates privately worried about the challenge his rise poses to holding key House and Senate seats in swing states. Meanwhile, conservative social media reactions ranged from alarm to celebration, with some accusing Mamdani of being a “Communist Muslim Jihadist.”
