Celebration of Socialist Victory in NYC Mayor Election

Left-leaning late-night TV hosts expressed their excitement on Wednesday night following the election win of Socialist New York City Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani.

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert both cheered for Mamdani, with Kimmel labeling the victory as a blow to former President Donald Trump. Colbert seemed particularly pleased, considering Mamdani’s win as a direct challenge to the wealthy elite.

During his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel proclaimed that Mamdani’s success made Donald Trump a loser. “Everything he touched was a loser,” Kimmel remarked happily, adding, “Not since we’ve known Donald Trump Jr. has Mr. Trump been so embarrassed.” Then he lightheartedly noted that Trump could spin his defeat into an excuse, stating, “In fact, he has two excuses.”

Kimmel also mentioned Trump’s absence from the ballot and the government shutdown as factors contributing to the poor performance of Republican candidates on Election Day. He quipped, “If the Republicans had won and he wasn’t on the ballot, would he take credit? Oh, absolutely. But he lost. He posted, ‘And so it begins.’ Was that about Mamdani winning, or was he just… I don’t know, sitting on the toilet?”

He further criticized the Republican Party’s obsession with claims of election fraud. “Isn’t it odd that it’s fraud only when you lose? What are the odds?” Kimmel laughed. He also pointed out a loss by V.D. Vance, the half-brother of J.D. Vance, saying he didn’t even know there was a half-brother involved, yet they lost by over 56 points despite J.D.’s backing.

Stephen Colbert echoed the sentiment that Mamdani’s victory stood against the wealthy, rather than ordinary folks. He described Mamdani’s achievement as a punch in the gut to the rich, particularly noting the significant financial efforts to oppose him from billionaires.

Colbert highlighted the major donations from wealthy individuals directed at defeating Mamdani, including $2.6 million from cosmetics heir Ron Rhoda and substantial contributions from others, remarking, “Election Day is a bad day for billionaires.” Still, he acknowledged that they could remain wealthy.

Colbert also celebrated the Democratic wins of Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, sharing his delight at the outcome.