{"id":2643928,"date":"2026-08-12T21:31:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-backs-aoc-on-woke-1-what-you-believe-can-change\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T21:32:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:32:31","slug":"mamdani-backs-aoc-on-woke-1-what-you-believe-can-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-backs-aoc-on-woke-1-what-you-believe-can-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani backs AOC on &#8216;Woke 1&#8217;: &#8216;What you believe can change&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-backs-aoc-on-woke-1-what-you-believe-can-change%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643928&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, previously supportive of left-wing policies such as defunding the police, has recently distanced himself from these positions, aligning more closely with mainstream views. In 2020, Mamdani supported the &#8220;defund the police&#8221; movement, citing concerns about police violence against marginalized groups, but he now emphasizes the importance of working with law enforcement for public safety. His shift reflects a broader trend among progressives, including alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to moderate their earlier radical stances amid Republican criticisms. The political landscape remains polarized, with Republicans exploiting these shifts to portray Democrats as out of touch adn radical, impacting election strategies ahead of 2024 and beyond. Mamdani also highlighted that beliefs can evolve over time and underscored his current commitment to police support, contrasting with his previous advocacy for police reform.The debate over progressive policies continues to influence electoral perceptions and party strategies in shaping future political discourse.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> on Wednesday followed the lead of Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY) in distancing himself from left-wing positions that trended among progressives at the start of the decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests that marked 2020, many Democrats espoused left-wing views on race, defunding the police, censorship, lockdowns, vaccines, and other positions. In the years since, some progressives, including Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez, and former Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, have backpedaled on some of those positions following accusations from Republicans that the \u201cwoke\u201d policies are out of touch with mainstream voters.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4685646\/mamdani-aoc-woke-1-2020-defund-the-police\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mamdani stands by AOC on \u2018Woke 1\u2019 backpedaling: \u2018What you believe can change\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4685103\/anna-paulina-luna-political-muscle-gop-races-across-country\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Anna Paulina Luna flexes political muscle in GOP races across the country<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4684810\/defunct-weaponization-fund-georgia-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump\u2019s dead \u2018anti-weaponization fund\u2019 comes back to life in Georgia Senate race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This week, Mamdani was pressed on whether he believes \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/4680628\/what-does-woke-1-mean-what-to-know\/\">Woke 1 was crazy<\/a>,\u201d after Ocasio-Cortez used the phrase on Sunday to defend Hong\u2019s reversal of controversial positions, borrowing it from New York City Councilman Chi Osse, a staunch socialist. Mamdani replied that \u201csometimes what you believe can change\u201d and said he \u201chas made very clear that I do not believe in defunding the police,\u201d while at an event breaking ground on the Tremont Avenue busway in the Bronx.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLook, I think that each person has a responsibility to tell New Yorkers, to tell Americans when they\u2019re running for office what they believe, and sometimes what you believe can change, can develop, it can grow,\u201d the mayor told reporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve made very clear that I do not believe in defunding the police, that I will not be defunding the police, and that to me, delivering critical public safety also looks like working with our police department alongside many other partners,\u201d Mamdani added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before he was elected as New York City\u2019s first socialist mayor last November, Mamdani had called to \u201cdefund the police\u201d and, in 2020, labeled the New York City Police Department \u201cracist, anti-queer &#038; a major threat to public safety.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2020, Mamdani <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZohranKMamdani\/status\/1269992761215811590\">wrote<\/a> that his support for the \u201cdefund the police\u201d movement was a \u201cfeminist issue,\u201d saying that \u201cespecially trans women are disproportionately impacted by police violence &#038; the violence of incarceration.\u201d The same year, he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZohranKMamdani\/status\/1324520792231714816\">argued<\/a> that \u201cqueer liberation means defund the police.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans sought to capitalize on such positions in the 2024 election by framing Democrats as radical, a move that ultimately helped the GOP win the presidency and Senate majority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across swing states, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/3224858\/democratic-pollster-three-problems-kamal-harris-voters\/\">25% of all voters <\/a>believed that then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was out of touch and \u201cfocused more on cultural issues like transgender issues rather than helping the middle class,\u201d according to polling following President Donald Trump\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4682228\/aoc-2028-woke-1-socialist-democrats\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4682228\/aoc-2028-woke-1-socialist-democrats\/\">AOC, 2028, AND THE COMING OF \u2018WOKE 2\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the years since, the GOP, and even more centrist establishment Democrats, have continued to seek to capitalize on what they believe to be radical positions, particularly ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re not Right versus Left or Republican versus Democrat. We\u2019re literally capitalist versus communist \u2014 and that\u2019s terrifying,\u201d Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2026\/08\/10\/francesca-hong-thanksgiving-wisconsin-primary\/91205362007\/\">told <\/a><em>USA Today<\/em> earlier this week in comments weighing in on Hong\u2019s 2020 support for abolishing Thanksgiving and other controversial positions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NYC Mayor Mamdani distances from early progressive stances<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2643929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-zhg6xrauy-1786581780698-e1786582995206.jpg?1786567466&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[8334,56552,62944,41581,84073],"class_list":["post-2643928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aoc","tag-mamdani","tag-political-beliefs","tag-social-change","tag-woke-1"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-zhg6xrauy-1786581780698-e1786582995206.jpg?1786567466&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643928"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643932,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643928\/revisions\/2643932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}