When Republicans cast New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as a national boogeyman, it might be worth stepping back and asking: how do ordinary Americans view him and does that make him a potent political tool? Recent national polling provides some clarity.
A Marquette University Law School poll conducted from November 5–12, 2025 found that 38 percent of Americans view Mamdani unfavourably, compared to 29 percent favorable. That yields a net rating of –9, which is not ideal, but notably, it’s better than several other prominent political figures. For example, the same poll shows Donald Trump at –17, J.D. Vance at –16, and Kamala Harris at –19.
This suggests that while Mamdani does have a negative profile among some Americans, he is far from being a pariah on the national stage.
One of the most striking divides emerges with age. Polling focusing on voters aged 18–39 found that 52 percent of young people have a favorable view of Mamdani.
Many of these young people strongly support his core economic ideas, including:
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62 percent back more government housing and a nationwide rent freeze
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A majority also supports his proposal for government-run grocery stores
This shows that among younger voters, it’s less about ideology and more about practical economics: the cost of housing and daily living.
While Republicans may emphasize Mamdani’s socialist label, his appeal seems rooted in affordability. Many of Mamdani’s policies, like freezing rent, free public buses, and government-run grocery stores, poll quite well. Indeed, some Americans appear more receptive to what he’s proposing than what he calls himself.
The desire for economic relief is not just theoretical: a majority of people say they’re struggling with the cost of living. That plays right into Mamdani’s message and is likely a reason why he performs relatively strongly in national favorability, despite being less well-known than many other political figures.
Still, some skepticism remains, especially among older people and Republicans. In one poll, 56 percent of Republicans who know enough about Mamdani say they view him very unfavorably. Among Americans aged 60 and older, there’s also strong negative sentiment, with four times as many seeing him very unfavorably as very favorably.
Part of this unease may stem from ideological framing. Terms like socialist, government-owned grocery stores, and rent freeze are powerful labels, but it’s also likely rooted in generational and economic divides over what role government should play in everyday life.
Many Americans, especially Democrats, seem increasingly comfortable with democratic socialism when linked to concrete policies. In some states, large portions of Democratic voters approve of Mamdani, especially in areas where housing affordability is a huge issue. Clearly, for a sizable slice of the electorate, the argument is not about left versus right but about affordability.
Given these dynamics, it’s understandable why Republicans might spotlight Mamdani as a foil. He does polarize; among older voters and his ideological opponents, he’s intensely disliked. But his brand of democratic socialism is not universally toxic, especially among younger people and those feeling squeezed by affordability.
Using him as a national boogeyman could fuel base mobilization, but it may backfire if more Americans come to see him not as an ideological extremist but as a politician serious about tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
What Americans think of Zohran Mamdani is complex. He isn’t broadly beloved, but he’s not deeply loathed either. His modest national unfavorability and strong appeal among young people, especially on affordability issues, make him more than just a convenient political punching bag. For Republicans, elevating him could energize their base, but it’s not a guaranteed win. Many Americans are listening, and what they’re hearing is not scare tactics, but solutions.
