Warren became one of the most prominent political figures to show their support for Mamdani as some national Democrats have kept their distance.

When Zohran Mamdani met last month with the city’s top businesspeople, he was pressed by Rob Speyer, CEO of real estate giant Tishman Speyer, to explain a glaring gap in his agenda: How would he ensure that his vow to freeze rents for New York’s 1 million stabilized apartments does not bankrupt the city’s growing number of distressed apartment buildings?

George Lunn, socialist mayor of Schenectady, New York rose to power in 1911 by making a difference in people's lives.