Mamdani urges Democrats to prioritize affordability

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged Democrats on Wednesday to use their gains in the November 3 midterm elections to pursue policies addressing affordability and working people’s concerns, describing the results as a sign voters want government to deliver tangible change. At a press conference, Mamdani called the election a referendum on politicians who, he said, had dismissed working people’s needs as unrealistic while responding to the priorities of wealthy people. He said Democrats should move beyond preventing losses to benefits and health insurance and focus on making life more affordable. Those descriptions reflect Mamdani’s interpretation of the vote. The final composition of Congress was not settled in the accounts of the results published Wednesday. One tally reported Democrats with 54 Senate seats, with two races pending, and 242 House seats, with counting continuing in 30 districts. Mamdani’s call to action came as election results were still being counted. He also praised Abdul ElSayed’s victory in Michigan, saying ElSayed had faced substantial spending against his campaign as well as racism and slander. Mamdani had publicly supported ElSayed and attended a...