Firewall with Bradley Tusk The Mamdani Breakdown
Nov 5, 2025
Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies and a keen political strategist, joins hosts Bradley Tusk and Jamie Rubin to dissect the historic win of NYC's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. They explore implications for Gov. Hochul’s re-election and discuss whether NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain, given differing policies. The conversation dives into housing reforms and the potential challenges Mamdani might face in maintaining grassroots support, alongside the fiscal realities influencing his agenda.
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Election Outcome Matched Expectations
- Chris Coffey predicted margins close to the actual result and saw nothing surprising in the NYC mayoral outcome.
- High turnout explained why margins were around 50% rather than much higher.
Economics Powered Recent Democratic Wins
- Bradley Tusk argues Democrats who focused on pocketbook issues performed well this cycle.
- Emphasizing economics (energy, housing, inflation) proved decisive in multiple races.
Keep Volunteers Engaged Post‑Victory
- Maintain volunteer engagement after the election by deploying them to primary or door‑knocking activities.
- Use sustained grassroots pressure as leverage against resistant incumbents.