Why are young voters drawn to Mamdani?

If the meteoric rise of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani illustrates one thing, it’s this: affordability, or a lack thereof, has energized young voters. But that’s not the only term voters and politicians are buzzing about. Mamdani is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. What does that even mean in 2025? USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey joins The Excerpt for more on all things Mamdani and what it might mean for the party that lost control of all three branches of government in the 2024 elections.

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Episode transcript available here. 

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