Mamdani-linked socialist group wants to 'dismantle and move beyond' capitalism: report

“Zohran’s affordability agenda is crystal clear: if Zohran has not publicly endorsed or spoken on a position during the campaign, it is not a part of his mayoral platform,” Zohran Mamdani campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: August 29, 2025 9:57am

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani's Democratic Socialists of America aims to "dismantle and move beyond" capitalism, according to a report.

Mamdani joined the NYC-DSA in 2017, before his election to the New York Assembly in 2019. According to the NYC-DSA agenda that was erased from its website in late 2021 and found on Internet archives by the New York Post, the party aims to “dismantle and move beyond” America’s capitalist society and create a “wholesale socialist transformation of our national and global economy.”

Mamdani has included some of the party's agenda in his mayoral campaign, such as city-run grocery stores, free buses, decriminalization of prostitution, ending mayoral control over public schools, and increased public funding for hormone therapy and surgery for transgender people.

“Zohran’s affordability agenda is crystal clear: if Zohran has not publicly endorsed or spoken on a position during the campaign, it is not a part of his mayoral platform,” Mamdani campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said.

She noted Mamdani's comments on Thursday, when he said, “My platform is not the same as national DSA or any DSA organization.”

The NYC-DSA co-chair, Gustavo Gordillo, told the Post, “Zohran’s platform and DSA’s platform are distinct.”

“NYC-DSA and Zohran share a relentless commitment to making our City more affordable for everyday people. Those shared values do not mean Zohran adopts every position the organization has taken,” Gordillo added.

“NYC-DSA remains proud to endorse Zohran,” he said, but didn't explain why the agenda was wiped from NYC-DSA’s website.

The local party's agenda also calls for decriminalizing all drugs, sex work, and petty crimes, such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, and fare jumping. The platform also seeks to expunge the records of anyone convicted of those crimes and release them from jail if still serving their sentence.

New York Democrats Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Gov. Kathy Hochul have yet to endorse the party’s nominee for mayor.