Zohran Mamdani’s stunning rise from Queens state assemblyman to New York City’s next mayor has shaken up politics in the city — and across the country. The 34-year-old democratic socialist’s win in Tuesday’s election has energized progressives while alarming conservatives, both of whom now see his story as a national talking point heading into the midterms.

Whether Mamdani becomes a transformative mayor or a cautionary tale will depend on how he governs, said former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. “His success will depend on whom he hires and builds coalitions with, as well as which issues he prioritizes,” Peduto said, adding that Mamdani must balance idealism with practicality.

Mamdani has already begun shaping his administration. He met with business and civic leaders after his Democratic primary win, and despite past criticism of the NYPD, he apologized for earlier remarks and plans to retain Commissioner Jessica Tisch. His transition team includes veterans of the Bloomberg, de Blasio, and Adams administrations, as well as former FTC Chair Lina Khan.

Peduto warned that activist-led governments often struggle. “The first mistake that an activist candidate makes is that they hire activists in government roles,” he said. “They show you where the problems are. That’s important in a democracy, but you can’t run a government with people who only know where the problems are.”

Mamdani said he’s open to hiring members of the Democratic Socialists of America but wants a team with a “record of excellence and an ability to deliver on agendas that are as ambitious as the crises that New Yorkers face.”

“He has the opportunity to work beyond the base that elected him,” Peduto added. “If he’s able to build relationships in Albany, Washington, and with City Council, there’s no denying that he’ll be able to make New York City a better place.”

With more than 50% of the vote, Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Progressives see that majority as a clear mandate. “If there’s one lesson to learn, it’s that everyone who told Zohran that he should move to the right… were all wrong,” said Usamah Andrabi of Justice Democrats.

In his victory speech, Mamdani declared, “New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change. A mandate for a new kind of politics.” He vowed to freeze rents on rent-stabilized housing, create universal child care, and make city buses free. “We will prove there is no problem too large for government to solve and no problem too small for it to care about,” he said.

Progressive strategist Adam Green said Mamdani’s communication skills could help him push his agenda. “The more storytelling and public engagement he does, the more leverage he will have,” Green said.

But Republicans are already turning Mamdani into a political target. “Commie Mamdani is the true leader of the Democrats,” said Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., argued that Mamdani’s win would alienate moderate Democrats. “That’s not my party,” he said, referring to conservative Democrats.

Even within the GOP, some see lessons in Mamdani’s appeal. “There’s a bunch of 20- or 30-year-old professionals in New York who can’t get jobs and buy homes,” a Senate GOP aide said. “It’s not hard to see why they might be upset.”

Former President Donald Trump has already threatened punitive measures against New York City under Mamdani’s leadership. Mamdani responded directly: “This is not only about how we stop Trump, but how to stop the next one.”

Mamdani’s next test will be delivering on his campaign promises, especially his push for universal child care — a policy that could define his term. Gov. Kathy Hochul has expressed interest in collaborating but remains hesitant about Mamdani’s proposed 2% tax on incomes over $1 million to fund the program.

Peduto said Mamdani’s success depends on consensus building. “He can put together pilot programs and different initiatives that will allow him to see success,” he said. “But only if he decides to be a consensus builder.”

Democrats remain divided over how prominently to feature Mamdani in their national message, but many agree he has changed the conversation. “There’s a defining choice for Democrats — do we have just an anti-Trump message or a fresh, forward-looking agenda that taps into economic populism?” said Green.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who shares campaign strategists with Mamdani, said the new mayor’s focus on affordability drove his victory. “I don’t agree with Zohran on everything,” Gallego said, “but he’s talking about what people are worried about — the cost of living and having a future.”

As Mamdani prepares to take office in January, both his allies and opponents will be watching closely to see whether his movement-style campaign can translate into effective leadership at City Hall.