Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist who won New York City’s June mayoral primary, is consolidating a lead in early polling ahead of the November election. His momentum has prompted both major parties to recalibrate: Mamdani this week aired a fresh attack spot aimed at former governor and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, mocking Cuomo’s record with an Epstein-related jibe. Republicans are counter-programming. The National Republican Congressional Committee on 13 August launched a digital campaign branded “Project 2026” that links Mamdani and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to higher taxes, open borders and the abolition of private property. The ads, aimed at 25 politically vulnerable House Democrats, underscore GOP efforts to nationalise the New York contest and cast Mamdani’s platform as emblematic of the party’s leftward shift. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer widened the assault by invoking Minneapolis, saying that mayoral contender Omar Fateh represents the “Midwest Mamdani.” In an interview with the Daily Caller, Emmer warned that Fateh’s pledge to shield undocumented immigrants would unleash “communist chaos,” signalling Republican plans to tie local races across the Midwest to the New York socialist’s agenda. Inside Democratic circles, concern is taking a different form. The New York Times reported that former President Barack Obama called Mamdani after the primary to offer governing advice, while several Obama-era strategists have quietly met with the campaign. The outreach suggests parts of the Democratic establishment expect Mamdani to prevail and are seeking influence rather than confrontation. Business-oriented commentators, including economist Stephen Moore on Fox Business, argue that Mamdani’s proposals could drive the financial sector out of New York, threatening the city’s two-century status as a global capital. With the general election less than three months away, the candidate’s rise is becoming both a rallying point for progressive activists and a central target for Republican messaging nationwide.