By Abdul-Hakim Shabazz | IndyPolitics.Org
A funny thing happened on the way to the next Indianapolis mayoral election: a socialist just won in New York City.
Okay — democratic socialist. But still.
Zohran Mamdani, the Kampala-born, Queens-based assemblyman and card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, just pulled off a political heist that would’ve seemed impossible five years ago. Running a shoestring, grassroots campaign focused on affordability, public housing, and fare-free transit, Mamdani toppled a complacent establishment and became the presumptive next mayor of America’s biggest city.
Cue the panic (or celebration) depending on your political persuasion.
Now, what does any of that have to do with the 2027 mayor’s race in Indianapolis, a city best known for corn-fed pragmatism, potholes, and politicians who think “bold” means using a new font on their campaign yard signs?
Actually — quite a bit.
And yes, before you ask, the title is a nod to that absurd 2008 Adam Sandler movie Don’t Mess with the Zohan, in which Sandler plays an Israeli commando turned NYC hairstylist. But this is real life — and in Mamdani’s case, the weapon isn’t martial arts or mousse. It’s a clear political message, delivered with surgical focus and a whole lot of shoe leather.
Now, let’s be clear: Indianapolis ain’t New York City. We’re 700 miles and a cultural universe apart. What plays in Brooklyn may not land in Broad Ripple. We don’t have bodegas on every corner, the subway doesn’t run all night, and you’re a lot more likely to see a tractor on I-70 than a Tesla with five union stickers on it. But even with all that distance — literal and figurative — Mamdani’s campaign still matters here. Because while the scale is different, the issues aren’t.
Forget the Bernie bro clichés. Mamdani’s campaign wasn’t built on Twitter dunking or revolution cosplay — it was door knocking, food pantry lines, and transit stops. His messaging was blunt: “You shouldn’t have to work three jobs to afford rent.” Turns out, a lot of people agree.
In Indy, we’re dealing with our own affordability crisis. Rent’s up, wages are flat, and too many working families are one missed paycheck away from crisis. So don’t be surprised if a local candidate in 2027 — especially in a crowded Democratic primary — takes a page out of Mamdani’s playbook: call out the establishment, promise rent caps, push public transit, and remind everyone that fixing sidewalks and investing in communities are not mutually exclusive.
If Mamdani can win in a city as cutthroat as New York, what’s stopping someone in Indy from doing the same?
Let’s be honest — Mamdani’s win isn’t just a victory for the left. It’s a warning shot to moderates and machine Democrats everywhere. For years, the playbook was simple: consolidate donor support, get endorsements from party elders, and coast to victory on name ID. That strategy just got smoked.
In Indy, that means the so-called “next-in-line” candidates — you know the ones, all résumé and no soul — may be in for a rude awakening. Voters are looking for authenticity, not pedigree. Energy, not entitlement.
So if you’re a well-heeled, business-friendly, cocktail-party Democrat eyeing 2027, you’d better come up with something more compelling than “I’ve always loved this city and will work hard.” Because someone hungrier, younger, and bolder may be coming for your base.
Now, granted, 2027 is still a long way off. A lot can happen in two years — and a lot is already happening. The current administration is still reeling from scandal and staff shakeups tied to its handling of workplace misconduct allegations, and voters are paying attention. Whether Joe Hogsett decides to hang it up or go one more round, there’s already a growing list of potential challengers, and it’s shaping up to be a crowded, possibly chaotic field.
Mamdani didn’t win because he had a million TikTok followers or a six-figure ad buy. He won because his team knocked on thousands of doors, organized in multiple languages, and treated communities as more than voting blocs. In a city like Indianapolis, that’s a lesson worth learning.
If you’re a candidate thinking about 2027, ask yourself: Are you really talking to the voters who live outside the usual donor zip codes? Do you know what’s happening in Haughville, Martindale-Brightwood, or Crooked Creek — beyond what your policy white papers say? Because here’s the deal: Mamdani didn’t win by being radical. He won by being present.
Yes, the GOP is already having a field day calling Mamdani a socialist boogeyman who wants to nationalize your backyard grill. That talking point is coming to Indianapolis too — whether it’s relevant or not. Expect local Republicans to say that electing any Democrat, especially one with progressive ideas, will turn Indy into Portland. Never mind that we can’t even keep up with road resurfacing or code enforcement.
But here’s the kicker: If the Democratic nominee embraces working-class issues and runs a clean, competent, values-driven campaign — like Mamdani just did — that red-baiting might fall flat. Voters care less about labels and more about results. Especially when their rent just went up again and the bus is still 30 minutes late.
Zohran Mamdani’s victory wasn’t about a personality cult or socialist branding. It was about relevance. About making the case that government can do something meaningful — and fast — for the people who are usually left out. That’s a message that resonates far beyond New York. Even in a red-leaning state like Indiana. Even in a city like Indianapolis, where the old guard still thinks endorsements are everything and momentum is a rumor.
The 2027 race is wide open. And if the Mamdani Moment teaches us anything, it’s this: You don’t have to be next in line to win. You just have to show up, tell the truth, and fight like hell for people who’ve been told to wait their turn.
And in Indianapolis, that might not just be enough to take City Hall — it might be exactly what it takes to blow the doors off it.
