New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates as he takes the stage at his election night watch party at the Brooklyn Paramount in New York City, Nov. 4, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty)
"Manny Rutinel and Abdul El-Sayed have anchored themselves to Mamdani, thinking he will get them across the finish line. Republicans are watching," RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told Fox News Digital.
Republican strategists hope that the efforts to tie socialism to Democrat candidates will diminish their chances outside of New York. For the Democrat candidates themselves, that introduces a question: Will the immediate momentum of the Mamdani brand bring the long-term downsides Republicans are counting on? Or could similarities to Mamdani's recent success help them stand out?
El-Sayed is walking that line carefully. When asked if he would embrace the idea of becoming Michigan’s Mamdani, El-Sayed said he would carve out his own image.
"I am the Michigan Abdul," he said. "I always have been. I always will be."
But like Mamdani, El-Sayed has made affordability — and the role of government — key pieces of his campaign. In addition to calling for lowering housing costs, he’s advocated for Medicare for all, opposes corporate tax carve-outs, and he supports tuition-free access to higher education. He expects voters from New York, Michigan and beyond to continue in that direction.
"You’re seeing that kind of resonance here in Michigan for sure. And I’m not surprised that you’re seeing that in New York, too. Government ought to be available to set an equal playing field for everybody and to offer those basic things that everybody needs and deserves," El-Sayed said.
El-Sayed endorsed Mamdani ahead of the mayoral election last week.
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Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., speaks during the Congressional Hispanic Conference press conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 25, 2025. (Bill Clark/Getty)
A strategist familiar with the thinking of campaigns in Colorado and Michigan believes that more Democrats may use an apparent similarity to Mamdani to stand out in the short term, especially in the wake of Tuesday’s election.
"I think — at least in crowded primaries — many candidates are just thinking they need to get through the primary," the strategist said. "It riles up the base. The base sees Mamdani as the new face of the party. They finally have someone."
"I just don’t think it’s going to be helpful in a general election," they added.
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Bomar, the RNC spokeswoman, said that if more Democrats decide to lean into that connection, Republicans will be waiting.
"Americans want no part of socialism and Mamdani will ultimately sink Democrats’ chances around the country," Bomar said.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-target-2-key-democratic-races-mamdani-connection-strategy