S.E. Cupp: In NYC, Zohran Mamdani makes politics fun

As a journalist and political commentator, I’ve covered politics for nearly 20 years — presidential elections, midterms, state and local races, even international elections.

It used to be fun. There was the horse race, a colorful cast of characters, the debate over ideas and policies, all occasionally punctuated by a juicy scandal or two.

But the business of covering politics, much like politics itself, has become a fetid, toxic cesspool of worse and worsening incentives to go lower, louder, darker and angrier. That goes for our candidates and parties, as well as the media charged with covering it all — we used to joke that politics was a blood sport, but, sadly, it’s not a joke any longer.

Our political leaders physically threaten one another, our president constantly threatens the media and anyone else he doesn’t like, our media exploits and foments the division in this country and some very troubled Americans have decided that political violence is a justifiable response to disagreement.

Trust me, there’s nothing “fun” about this anymore.

I can’t imagine it’s fun for voters, either. Where there was once an option to be politically engaged without being politically enraged — a casual but informed observer of the news and the issues — it feels as though the only option today is, ready for battle. And if you’re not angry at someone, you’re just not doing it right.

I have no words of optimism to share about the state of our national politics. It’s unequivocally awful, and I fear only going to get worse. But, I can offer a brief respite from it.

About a month ago I started covering the New York City mayoral election for a show called “Battleground NYC” on Fox 5 NY. Five nights a week I interview local reporters, political analysts, candidates, activists, elected officials and importantly voters, in an effort to get inside the race.

There’s no yelling, no debate. Just informed guests and good questions.

What I’ve discovered is this race is a refreshing throwback to those fun days of politics, and a lot of that is because of the frontrunner.

Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist who unexpectedly won the Democratic nomination, is the opposite of everything I’ve ever typically voted for in a political candidate.

Where I prize experience and expertise, he has practically none.

Where I’m a staunch conservative and capitalist, he’s a progressive socialist.

Where I’m not usually compelled by personality contests, he’s winning this one handily.

But with his inarguable charm, authenticity, sincerity and Happy Warrior ethos, he’s injecting hope, humanity and even humor into politics at a time when we are so utterly bankrupt of all three.

Practically everyone I talk to about Mamdani has the same outlook as he seems to — urgent but optimistic, aware of our many problems but sanguine about solving them, clear-eyed about the stakes but refusing to add fuel to the fire.

In the midst of Mamdani’s unexpected rise, the campaigns of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams seem so flatfooted, unsure of what to do to break through his bubble of positivity. Dogged by scandal and corruption themselves, and messily intertwined with President Trump, Cuomo and Adams are stuck in today’s politics, while Mamdani’s managed to transcend them.

Rijkaard Alexis, a 31-year-old Haitian immigrant who recently became a U.S. citizen, said he was excited to vote for Mamdani in his first election.

“I watched my mother cry when Obama got elected. That hope people had, I finally understand it now.”

It’s a poignant reminder that in a sea of Andrew Cuomos and Donald Trumps, there’s still an appetite for John F. Kennedys and Ronald Reagans. Even today.