Affordability Wins: Why Corbyn Backs Mamdani's Rent Revolution

Global Left Unites: Jeremy Corbyn Champions Zohran Mamdani’s Vision for an Affordable New York-The political landscape in New York City is experiencing a transformative moment as former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has enthusiastically thrown his support behind Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, signaling a powerful alignment of global progressive movements. Corbyn’s active involvement, manning phone banks alongside the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYCDSA) to “Get Out The Vote for Zohran Mamdani,” underscores the critical nature of this election and the growing momentum behind Mamdani’s platform to make New York “affordable for all!”

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Mamdani, a State Assembly member and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, is the decisive frontrunner in the mayoral race, consistently leading his main rival, independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, by significant margins in recent polls. This commanding lead is a testament to the strong appeal of his progressive agenda, which directly addresses the soaring costs of living plaguing New Yorkers.

Mamdani’s Unstoppable Momentum and Latest Campaign Activities-The final days of the campaign have seen an outpouring of support and high-profile recognition for Mamdani. In a major boost to the campaign, former President Barack Obama personally called Mamdani, praising his impressive campaign and offering to serve as a “sounding board” if he wins, a powerful sign of establishment recognition for the rising star. This comes alongside endorsements from other influential Democratic figures including Vice President Kamala Harris and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, demonstrating a broad coalition coalescing behind his vision.

Mamdani has recently focused on consolidating his diverse base through creative community engagement, including a community soccer tournament to promote his affordability platform, and actively engaging with various communities including progressive Jewish and South Asian voters, signaling his commitment to representing all New Yorkers. His focus on affordability continues to resonate deeply, allowing him to cut through politically charged rhetoric.

The Vision for an Affordable New York-The core of Mamdani's widespread popularity is his bold, easy-to-understand economic platform. His central promise is a four-year rent freeze for millions of residents in rent-stabilized units, a key measure to stabilize housing costs. Addressing the city's housing crisis, he plans to construct 200,000 new permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes over the next decade, tripling the city’s current production rate and investing $100 billion, funded by activating city-owned land and municipal bonds.

Beyond housing, Mamdani's transformative proposals include implementing fare-free city buses, providing universal public child care, establishing city-owned grocery stores in each borough to curb food prices, and raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. To fund these essential public services and investments, Mamdani advocates for higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, including a proposed 2% tax on incomes over $1 million. These measures represent a clear and positive vision for a future where New York truly works for its working families.

Corbyn's Support and the Defense of Progressive Action-Corbyn’s backing further validates Mamdani's unapologetically socialist platform and his commitment to tackling inequality. While opponents like Andrew Cuomo have attempted to leverage past political controversies for criticism, labeling Mamdani a “communist”—a term also used by Donald Trump—these attacks have consistently failed to erode Mamdani's double-digit lead. The focus of the campaign remains squarely on the existential question of whether New York City will remain a livable home for its diverse population, a question Mamdani is answering with comprehensive solutions.

Corbyn’s own experience with political attacks, including those made by Trump over his "meddling" in the 2019 UK election, highlights the hypocrisy of those now criticizing his principled support for a candidate fighting for economic justice. Corbyn’s defense of Mamdani’s vision, which will ensure that New York does not pass by on the other side while people suffer economic hardship, is a powerful endorsement of Mamdani’s progressive politics on the global stage. Mamdani's expected victory on Tuesday is poised to be one of the great political upsets in modern American history, solidifying his position as a powerful voice for a new kind of politics focused on social and economic liberation for all.