Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) took to national television to draw a firm line between the party’s core and New York City’s newly minted Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist whom Smith disavows.
On July 1, 2025, Mamdani clinched the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, and just weeks later on July 19, Smith made it clear the party isn’t ready to let him carry the banner for their broader agenda.
The Hill reported that during an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Smith didn’t mince words about Mamdani’s role. "Look, the mayor of New York has never, never, ever been the leader of the Democratic Party," he declared. Well, that’s a polite way of saying ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism taking center stage.
Smith doubled down, emphasizing the diverse nature of the Democratic coalition. "Mamdani isn’t speaking for our party, any more than I’m speaking for our party," he said, painting the party as a sprawling coalition rather than a monolith.
It’s a fair point, but one wonders if this is less about inclusivity and more about keeping the progressive agenda at arm’s length. This isn’t just about internal party optics; it’s about messaging in a polarized landscape.
Smith urged Democrats to focus on delivering a unified stance on critical issues rather than letting individual voices like Mamdani’s dominate the narrative. Conservatives might chuckle—after all, a divided house rarely stands tall.
And speaking of messaging, Smith didn’t hold back on redirecting attention to Republican policies. He pointed to former President Trump’s immigration record as a vulnerability, accusing him of squandering public trust. It’s a classic pivot, but does it distract from the Democratic Party’s own identity crisis?
Smith hammered Trump on immigration, claiming the former president is "underwater" on the issue. He criticized a hefty $170 billion expenditure on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), tied to a Republican bill signed into law by Trump on July 4, 2025. That’s a lot of taxpayer dollars for a policy conservatives often defend as necessary for border security.
But Smith wasn’t done with the critique. "He’s spending all this money now on going around and terrorizing communities with high-profile ICE raids," he charged, arguing these actions are ineffective and alienate the public.
While law and order matter, Smith’s point about public perception might hit closer to home than some conservatives care to admit.
Let’s be real: ICE raids are a lightning rod. Supporters see them as enforcing the rule of law, while critics view them as heavy-handed and divisive. Smith’s argument that they’ve turned opinion against Trump could be a warning for Republicans to rethink their approach.
Shifting gears, Smith also took aim at Republican fiscal policy, pointing to a $3.5 trillion addition to the national debt, largely from tax cuts.
It’s a jab that might sting conservatives who pride themselves on fiscal responsibility. After all, ballooning deficits aren’t exactly a winning campaign slogan.
Smith’s broader message to Democrats was clear: stay on point. "We, Democrats, have a message, and we have a message to deliver," he insisted. Yet, one can’t help but notice the irony of preaching focus while publicly distancing from a party nominee.
Conservatives watching this unfold might see an opportunity. A Democratic Party wrestling with its own ideological spectrum—especially when figures like Mamdani push a socialist tilt—could struggle to present a united front against Republican priorities.
Smith’s comments also raise questions about how the Democratic Party plans to balance its diverse voices. While Mamdani supposedly doesn't speak for the party, Mamdani’s win in New York City’s primary still puts him in a prominent spot.
It’s a tightrope walk for Democrats: embrace the energy of the progressive wing or risk alienating moderates who might lean right if pushed too far.