The Rise of Zohran Mamdani: A Political Earthquake in Liberal Hollywood
Imagine the surprise when voters in Kentucky were reminded they couldn't cast their ballots for New York's mayor! It's a sign of the impact Zohran Mamdani's campaign has had, not just in his home state but across the nation.
The Democratic Socialist's victory in Gotham's mayoral race has sent shockwaves through the country, marking the first significant win for liberal Democrats in the Trump II era. And it hasn't gone unnoticed in Hollywood, where the entertainment industry's liberal core has been buzzing.
Divided Opinions and a Unifying Win
The entertainment industry has been divided over Mamdani's candidacy and the role of Democratic Socialism in the anti-Trump resistance. His win offers a chance to bridge some of these divisions, but will it be enough?
Mamdani's victory isn't the only story capturing the attention of media and entertainment professionals. The governor's race in New Jersey, a state suddenly buzzing with production activity, and the battle over Proposition 50 in California, seen as an anti-Trump tool, have also seized the town's attention. Let's dive into these key races and their implications.
New York: Mamdani's Rise to Power
Zohran Mamdani, a relative unknown earlier this year, emerged as the leading Democratic candidate for New York City mayor just weeks before the crowded June primary. He dominated the Ranked Choice Voting race and maintained his lead throughout.
Despite the dramatic entries (and in one case, withdrawal) of Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams as independent candidates, Mamdani's coalition of Gen Z, Muslim, South Asian, and progressive Democrat New Yorkers remained solid. With nearly 90% of the vote counted on Tuesday night, he held a commanding nine-point lead over Cuomo, his nearest challenger.
Mamdani's victory was a popular mandate, with all major news outlets calling the race in his favor. His trajectory has a distinct Hollywood flair, reminiscent of the underdog stories we love in sports movies. He skillfully utilized social media and Hollywood tropes, releasing popular TikToks and running ads that played off shows like “The Bachelor.” His campaign visuals even had a Bollywood twist!
Mamdani's approach to handling Trump and trolls, often with a smile and a steadfast message, sets him apart from the current president. His ability to stay on message, even in the face of distractions, has been a key part of his success.
However, Mamdani's win also highlights the complex political forces at play. Trump's comeback, the war in Gaza, and the affordability crisis all contributed to his momentum, showing that politics is often beyond any one person's control.
Hollywood's Response: A Mixed Bag
Mamdani has gained support from politically vocal entertainers like Spike Lee, Bowen Yang, Cynthia Nixon, Emily Ratajkowski, and Lupita Nyong'o. Ilana Glazer and Mark Ruffalo even phone-banked for him. But will more moderate celebrities rally behind him? History suggests that Hollywood tends to embrace winners, and Mamdani's victory could be a powerful incentive.
Yet, Mamdani's positions on certain issues, such as his belief that Israel should not exist as a majority-Jewish state, may be less palatable to some celebrities. Additionally, many celebrities have taken a quieter approach to activism since the first Trump administration, either out of fatigue or tactical restraint. Will Mamdani's win energize them to get more involved?
Perhaps the most crucial factor is Mamdani himself. His effectiveness as a governor will determine whether the entertainment industry fully embraces him. Hollywood loves a winning candidate, but an even bigger draw is a popular and successful leader.
California: Proposition 50 and Gerrymandering
As of Tuesday evening, California's Proposition 50, which aims to gerrymander the Congressional map and potentially reduce the number of Republican representatives, appears to be gaining strong support.
While some left-leaning California voters have mixed feelings about Prop 50, they believe it's a necessary step to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts in other states. The proposition amends California's constitution to allow a one-time mid-decade map redrawing by elected officials, designed to counteract GOP efforts in states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina.
Governor Gavin Newsom has put his political future on the line with this measure. A No vote on Prop 50 would significantly damage his chances of a presidential run.
The drama surrounding Prop 50 intensified in September when former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly opposed the measure. However, a group of famous Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Chris Murphy, featured in an ad supporting Prop 50 that blanketed the state during the World Series.
Celebrity enthusiasm for Prop 50 has been relatively muted. Nine-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish urged her followers to vote yes, but faced backlash from actor James Woods and former reality star Spencer Pratt, who called her comments "stupid."
Even Rick Caruso, a billionaire real estate developer and former mayoral candidate who is not a staunch partisan Democrat, became a supporter of Prop 50 ahead of a potential gubernatorial run next year. Schwarzenegger, who helped lead the effort to create the independent commission as governor, remained one of the sole dissenting public voices.
Steve Caplan, a strategic communications consultant, explains that there's little room to mount a campaign against Prop 50 in a state where Trump's approval rating is just 26%. "To change that narrative to something about good governance is not a message that's going to resonate in this political climate," he says.
New Jersey: A Film Industry Hub
New Jersey, known as the Garden State, has a generous film tax incentive program that has attracted massive investments from Hollywood production companies in recent years. Governor Phil Murphy, the Democrat who oversaw this boom, is stepping down after eight years in office, leaving the race open for Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
On Tuesday night, news outlets called the race for Sherrill, a congresswoman and former prosecutor and naval officer. She led by more than 12 points with nearly all votes tallied, securing a resounding win over her Trump-backed opponent. In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger achieved a similar victory in the governor's race.
Tim Sullivan, a key member of Murphy's cabinet and the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), is also stepping down. Sullivan, an investment banker turned business advocate, was instrumental in captaining the state's film incentives program.
Their legacy is significant. Netflix is transforming the shuttered Fort Monmouth Army base in central New Jersey into a massive $848 million production facility. And just last week, Paramount revealed it would be the anchor tenant for Bayonne's giant 1888 production campus.
New Jersey's film incentives, thanks to Murphy and Sullivan, are among the most attractive in the nation, offering qualified productions up to a 40% tax credit. This has resulted in the state ranking fourth in the nation for production-spend dollars in the first half of 2025, behind only California, New York, and Georgia.
The consensus is that Sherrill will continue to support these incentives, given their success in spurring growth. However, a new administration always brings its own ideas and strategies.
Entertainment professionals in New Jersey are optimistic about the future. Nick Day, president of the Screen Alliance of New Jersey (SANJ), said both candidates expressed a strong desire to continue the state's Film and Digital Media Tax Credit and support the growth of the film industry.
And Here's Where It Gets Controversial...
Mamdani's win in New York has divided opinions, with some questioning his positions on certain issues. But will his governance style and ability to unite the city be enough to overcome these concerns? And in California, the battle over Proposition 50 raises questions about the role of gerrymandering and the influence of celebrity endorsements. How much impact do these endorsements really have?
These races showcase the complex interplay between politics, media, and the entertainment industry. As we've seen, the outcomes can have far-reaching implications. What do you think? Will Mamdani's win in New York have a lasting impact on Hollywood's political landscape? And how will the outcomes in California and New Jersey shape the future of these states?
