Chicago Tribune’s Warning to New Yorkers About Mayoral Candidate

In a striking editorial released on Monday, just before the Empire State’s primary, the Chicago Tribune issued a stern warning to New Yorkers over the potential election of a socialist like Zoran Mamdani.

The editorial board painted a grim picture of the 33-year-old democratic socialist, who has surprisingly surged past longtime frontrunner Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race.

“It’s a familiar dilemma: business-friendly Democrats versus democratic socialists. New Yorkers, take heed from Chicago—we’ve seen this story unfold, and it rarely ends well,” the paper cautioned.

They drew parallels between Mamdani’s campaign—energized by grassroots support from progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson, who took office in 2023—and the challenges faced by Johnson, whose approval ratings plummeted in his second year.

“What seemed promising in theory has devolved into dysfunction due to harsh realities of governance and financial instability,” the Tribune noted. “Experience suggests that far-left candidates often struggle to manage effectively in today’s economic climate.”

The editorial highlighted many of Mamdani’s proposals, such as rent freezes and city-operated supermarkets, as ideas that resonate with some of Johnson’s proposals and find appeal in the city.

However, it remarked that “experience here shows that far-left candidates often fail to create effective local governments, especially in challenging times.”

The board expressed concern about Mamdani’s ambitious tax proposals, which they likened to Johnson’s previous attempts to increase taxes that ultimately flopped.

“Johnson tried for a $300 million tax increase and failed. He attempted to implement a ‘mansion tax’ by increasing property transfer taxes, but that also didn’t succeed,” they emphasized.

The Tribune’s critique adds to a growing chorus of criticism from various New York media outlets, with sentiments echoing that of publications like the Post, Daily News, and The New York Times.

Underlying their argument is the concern that if New Yorkers are dissatisfied with Mayor Eric Adams, they shouldn’t risk trading him for someone whose policies might lead to an even more unstable and less competitive city.

“Trust us—we live in that reality,” the Tribune concluded.

This foreboding warning arrived just one day before the primary voting scheduled from 6 AM to 9 PM.