Joe Concha predicts there is no ‘national appetite’ for candidates like Mamdani
Joe Concha, senior writer at the Washington Examiner, expressed skepticism about the national viability of socialist candidates like Zohran Mamdani. Speaking on Fox News’s Varney & Co, Concha argued that while socialist candidates might win in large urban areas such as New York, Chicago, or Seattle, their appeal is limited outside major cities. He suggested that socialism is highly likely to be rejected on a wider national scale, as the broader electorate tends to favor more centrist or right-leaning candidates.
Concha pointed out that Mamdani’s narrow win in New York City, with just over 50% of the vote, pales in comparison to the stronger performances of past and more moderate politicians like former Mayor Eric Adams and Vice President Kamala Harris, who won the city with around 67% and 70% respectively. Despite endorsements from prominent progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as establishment Democrats such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Governor Kathy Hochul, socialist candidates face meaningful challenges in gaining widespread national support. This was further illustrated by the defeat of another socialist candidate, Omar Fateh, in Minneapolis, where voters chose to keep the incumbent Democratic mayor instead.
Joe Concha predicts there is no ‘national appetite’ for candidates like Mamdani
Washington Examiner Senior Writer Joe Concha suggested that socialism “will be rejected” on a national level.
“Socialists have been emboldened, and they believe now that they are the face and soul of the Democratic Party, and it may be the miscalculation of the century,” Concha said on Fox News’s Varney & Co on Thursday. “Socialist candidates may win in a place like New York or Chicago or Seattle, but in the end, if you want to beat the Republican, you got to appeal to the center and the right of the country in places outside of places like big cities.”
“This stuff will be rejected,” Concha said of socialist ideals. “I just think that they’re misreading the tea leaves here. They won in some blue states and the biggest blue city on Tuesday. That does not mean that there’s a national appetite for any of this.”
Mamdani won just over 50% of the vote in New York City, while his predecessor, Eric Adams, won 67% of the vote. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won the city with 70% of the vote during last year’s election.
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Both Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Mamdani. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have some wondering if their national “Fight Oligarchy” tour will be followed by a presidential run. Their staunch support of Mamdani encouraged even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to endorse him leading up to Tuesday.
Another socialist candidate who was not successful this election year was Omar Fateh in Minneapolis. Instead, voters opted to keep Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey at the helm.
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