The Saturday Scene: Pride Month, a New York mayor, and the politics of actually meaning it

As you know, I'm an autumn enthusiast at heart. But my god, this weather is abysmal. It's Pride Month and I'm still wearing jackets. On Thursday I actually retrieved my scarf from the drawer. This morning, in an act of pure defiance, I'm sipping an iced coffee. It's June. Iced coffee season has been declared, regardless of what the sky thinks.

But to more serious matters.

Evidence in New York: progressive politics can win elections.

This Saturday morning I want to turn my attention across the pond. New York City has always been hailed as the city that never sleeps, a place where liberal-minded people feel at home. Let's set aside for a moment that NYC is surrounded by a deeply conservative state. The city itself is known for its progressive spirit, and above all for its contribution to the global LGBTQ+ equality movement. New York has been a bastion of progress for many decades.

Bearing all of that in mind, it is perhaps less surprising that Zohran Mamdani, who belongs to the socialist wing of the Democratic Party, managed to pull off a significant win. His campaign promised a more equal, fairer and more affordable New York, and he positioned himself as someone who could unite the city rather than divide it.

In some respects his campaign did what you would expect of any politician's campaign. But in other ways it already hinted at someone who refused to accept the status quo. Nothing about his demeanour, his style of communication, or his way with people screamed dusty old politician playbook.

Campaigning is one thing, of course. Governing is another.