A New Wave of Civic Engagement

Neda Davarpanah, a screenwriter and actor from Los Angeles, felt compelled to support Mamdani’s campaign. She traveled to New York in late October to canvass on the Upper East Side. Having participated in recent Hollywood strikes as a new member of the Writers Guild of America, she noticed a decline in momentum over the past year. However, Mamdani’s entry into the race reignited her passion.

“We felt so motivated and energized to help people in a city we don’t even live in because of the broader impact on the country,” she said.

Many young activists involved are part of the 4,000-member Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter in Los Angeles, inspired by Mamdani’s campaign and its national implications. They aim to bring the hope and lessons learned from field organizing back to their city.

Unique Challenges in Political Campaigning

While New York and Los Angeles differ significantly in geography and political dynamics, the focus on local elections in Los Angeles often holds more weight than mayoral races. The DSA-LA chapter has endorsed several candidates for city council and local school board elections, providing ample opportunities for volunteers to engage politically in the coming year.

Leslie Chang, the East San Gabriel Valley coordinator for DSA, also traveled to New York to canvass for Mamdani. She encountered challenging conversations with residents feeling overlooked by city development.

“They would say: look at the condition of this place that I live in. We are still waiting for repairs from the hurricane. Why should I care who is running for office if my life hasn’t gotten better?”

The Role of Personal Connections in Campaigning

During her training, Chang met New York City council members supporting Mamdani’s campaign who encouraged her to share their contact information to initiate conversations with constituents. She noted that this level of engagement is often absent in Los Angeles canvassing efforts.

Paul Zappia, an animator and DSA-LA leader, first met Mamdani at a DSA national conference in 2023. He emphasized the significance of Mamdani’s victory as a symbol beyond New York City.

“I shared with everybody that I was here from Los Angeles because the victory of Zohran Mamdani is bigger than New York City,” he stated.

Shifting Public Sentiment

Clayton Ryles, another volunteer, noted the stark difference in enthusiasm during Mamdani’s campaign compared to past elections. His experience canvassing for Kamala Harris revealed a public exhausted and suspect of the political process.

“Nobody was excited about the election… for Zohran, most of the people were enthusiastic about what could happen with his mayoral tenure,” Ryles reflected.

Davarpanah echoed this sentiment, recalling the enthusiastic crowd response to Mamdani’s vision for policies like “fast and free buses” and “universal childcare.” She believes articulating a policy vision that resonates with constituents is crucial for inspiring civic engagement.