It is not enough to win power
On Tuesday, working people in New York and across the nation spoke clearly. We expect more from government. We are tired of waiting.
In the final weeks of this campaign, Vice President J.D. Vance asked for a “couple more years” to get things right. But working people can’t wait two more years. The rent is due this month. As is the childcare bill. And the grocery bill.
— We are tired of being told there isn’t enough to go around while Elon Musk becomes the world’s first trillionaire.
— We are tired of being told to sacrifice our land and water for data centers.
— We are tired of being told our needs are “unrealistic” by politicians who are bought by the wealthiest people on the planet.
— We are tired of being told to ask for little and expect less.
And on Tuesday, the people spoke.
We stood up to politicians who spend our tax dollars on war crimes and genocide instead of on schools and roads. We spoke louder than the billionaires and corporate interests who tried, and failed, to buy this election. And we demanded an end to the affordability crisis.
Democrats won back the House and the Senate. And I got to say a sentence I never thought I would: we won Senate races in Michigan, South Carolina, Kansas, and Iowa. Even Mississippi looks good as we speak.
Here at home, Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier are headed to Congress. I can’t wait to count on them as partners for our affordability agenda in Washington. And New Yorkers passed all five ballot proposals to make city government faster.
We hear often that the politics we’re fighting for isn't possible outside of New York City. But Tuesday showed that working people constitute a strong majority, whether in Austin or Allentown, Ann Arbor or Astoria.
I’m grateful, and I’m extraordinarily proud of all of you who volunteered and voted. But it is not enough to simply win power. We must flex our power.
Here in New York, 26,500 people already lost their SNAP benefits to federal cuts. Another 900,000 New Yorkers will lose their health insurance under cuts the Republicans delayed until after the midterms. We will work hand-in-hand with our congressional delegation to stop these devastating cuts. And we will do so without compromising our ability to go on offense to make life affordable.
The way Democrats govern now is of critical importance.
The American people know the difference between hollow words and hard work. That’s why what we do in New York matters far beyond our city limits.
We inherited a $12 billion budget deficit and closed it without austerity by asking the rich to pay their fair share. This fall, thousands of kids started free 2-K. We won $115 million in back pay for delivery workers. And we filled more than 200,000 potholes in just nine months. Each of these accomplishments serves as proof that an ambitious government can also be a competent one.
We’ve had the debate. Now it is time for the Democratic Party to deliver.
My friends, it’s morning again in America. Let’s get to work.
Zohran Mamdani
Mayor of New York City
Please read one more thing… On Tuesday we won power, but now we have to flex it. Our campaign didn’t just fight for Zohran this year. We helped turn out voters in races across New York, from City Hall to Congress. Next year, we’ll do it again. But winning elections is only half the job. A strong, active campaign is how we hold elected leaders to their promises. That keeps the pressure on, so the agenda gets delivered and not just talked about. Every dollar you give builds the operation that wins races and keeps winners accountable. |
Comments
Post a Comment