Conservative Party Chair Criticizes Democrats After Mamdani Elected Mayor of New York City

Conservative Party of New York State Chair Gerard Kassar this week criticized Democrats for what he called a “major error” in electing Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor, saying the party now “owns socialism itself.”

In a November 5 statement, Kassar said the results of Tuesday’s election placed conservatives in “an impossible situation,” with Republican Curtis Sliwa polling in the single digits and voters effectively choosing between “a former Democratic governor who told political conservatives they’re no longer welcome in New York State” and “an Israel-hating, 33-year-old, anti-cop socialist hipster who’s never had a real job.” He argued that the outcome reflected the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America in city politics.

“Well-organized Democratic Socialists are on the rise in New York, and in other liberal cities across the U.S., and the Conservative Party will be at the forefront of exposing them for what they are: street hustlers seeking power,” Kassar said. “We are the defenders of shared wisdom and common sense in this state, and both tell us that tough times are ahead under these new radicalized Democrats.”

Unofficial city returns show Mamdani received 878,956 votes on the Democratic Party line and 157,095 on the Working Families Party line. Republican Sliwa, who also appeared on the independent Protect Animals line, earned a combined total of 146,137 votes. The Conservative Party ran Irene Estrada for mayor, who received 2,643 votes, or 0.13 percent. Notably, Kassar did not mention Estrada in his statement.

Kassar also noted that the Conservative Party “had successes throughout New York State,” citing victories by candidates who either won office on the party line or where the party’s endorsement provided the margin of victory, though he didn’t name specific instances. However, he said the New York City results still “should ring alarm bells” for conservatives.

He closed with a warning to Governor Kathy Hochul, accusing her of “embracing the avowed Marxian coming to City Hall” and predicting that “the leftward march of her party in New York will end in 2026.”