Zohran Mamdani and the Five Principles of Winning Political Communication

What New York’s new mayor’s victory speech teaches about leadership, credibility, and campaign strategy – and why Europe is now talking about a “Mamdani Moment.”

I recommend everyone listen to Zohran Mamdani’s 23-minute victory speech “Turn the Volume Up!”, delivered on the night of November 4, 2025, when he was elected Mayor of New York.

Five principles stand out like through a magnifying glass—principles that can make political communication and campaigning succeed even against all odds:

1. Focus on one central concept.

Mamdani builds everything around affordability—and makes structural change visible on a broad scale. The vision behind it: a democratic, contemporary interpretation of historical materialism, rooted in the cultural openness of the Harlem Renaissance, and in civil rights movements.

2. Address real pain points with clear language.

Name problems directly. Use slogans people can immediately relate to.

3. Be a movement, not a party.Unite rather than divide.

Build and deepen alliances across social groups and interests.

4. Lead with action.

Credibility comes from deeds—practical solutions before and during the campaign, visibility on the ground, and genuine care. That’s how trust is earned. It’s what effective politics looks like, starting at the local level.

5. Connect belonging with the future. (not origin)

Acknowledge people’s need for inclusion and perspective—and tie both to a tangible plan of action.

This communicative, action-driven mix travels well. Its effectiveness can be seen in other parts of the world too—for example, in the unlikely electoral victories of India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, Common Man’s Party) since 2015, with their focus on corruption.

Here in Germany, some already speak of a “Mamdani moment”—the moment when people of different generations and backgrounds join forces in a democratic push to replace autocratic MAGA-style politics with a social market economy.

Caution is still warranted: we operate in a political ecosystem where ideas drown in bureaucracy, conviction turns into tactics, and lost elections end in appointments—where endurance is rewarded more often than courage.

Real change still depends on one thing above all: credible, courageous leadership—people who fight for the cause, not for themselves.

Link to speech with transcript, in The Guardian