As the U.S. government shutdown extends into its second month, House Republicans have found a new political villain — and it’s not President Joe Biden or any top Democrat in Washington.
Their latest focus is Zohran Mamdani, a New York State assemblyman, self-described democratic socialist, and candidate for mayor of New York City.
GOP Blames the “Socialist Left” for Shaping Democratic Policy
During an interview with Fox News Digital, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) claimed that Mamdani represents what he calls the “socialist takeover” of the Democratic Party.
“You can see how far the Democratic Party has shifted to the left,” Scalise said. “It started when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Joe Crowley, and since then, Democrats have been afraid of that progressive movement. Now, figures like Mamdani are driving the party’s agenda.”
Scalise also pointed to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Mamdani’s mayoral bid as proof that mainstream Democrats are catering to their far-left base. “They’re running scared of the socialist wing,” he added. “And Mamdani is at the center of it.”
Speaker Johnson Defends GOP Focus on Mamdani
Throughout the week, House Republicans have repeatedly mentioned Mamdani during their press briefings on the ongoing government shutdown crisis.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) pushed back against media criticism that the GOP is “obsessed” with Mamdani.
“The media wants to attack us for calling out Mamdani,” Johnson said Thursday. “But this socialist movement within the Democratic Party is real, and we have a duty to warn the American people. That’s our responsibility as elected leaders. Mamdani has become a major influence, especially now that Hakeem Jeffries is backing him.”
Republicans have even begun referring to Mamdani as “Commie Mamdani,” a nickname introduced by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) during a recent shutdown press conference.
Mamdani Fires Back at GOP Leaders
In response, Mamdani accused Republicans of using him as a political distraction from their failure to govern effectively.
“Speaker Johnson should be focused on doing his job — not attacking our campaign,” Mamdani said Monday at a Manhattan event. “If I were part of a party that promised Americans cheaper groceries and lower living costs but delivered a government shutdown instead, I’d also be desperate for distractions.”
A Local Politician at the Center of a National Debate
The escalating feud shows how Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens, has unexpectedly become a national figure in the ongoing government shutdown debate.
For Republicans, Mamdani now symbolizes the Democratic Party’s growing socialist influence, while for Democrats, he represents the progressive energy reshaping their future.
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