Democrats are grappling with how progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani fits into the party apparatus, a week after his shock defeat of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and amid the party’s

He’s 33 years old, a social media powerhouse, and a likely contender to become the city’s new mayor. Does his victory signal a new path forward for the American left?

He instantly becomes the face of the Democratic Party,” Rep. Mike Lawler tells TIME, referring to Zohran Mamdani