Joe on AOC, Mamdani and Sen. Sanders: There is a lane for populist Democrats to run in and win

Election Overview - Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Zoran Mdani for New York City mayor less than two weeks before the general election [1] - Early voting saw over 164,000 voters on Saturday and Sunday, a five-fold increase from 2021 [2] - Polls suggest Mdani holds a lead over Republican Curtis Lee and independent Andrew Cuomo [6] - Mdani is expected to win the election [15][17] Political Implications - Mdani's victory could significantly boost democratic socialism in America [3][4] - Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez's support highlights the national significance of the local election [3][4] - Mdani's win would provide an opportunity to implement democratic socialist policies [5] - Republicans may use Mdani's policies as a foil in midterm campaigns [9] - National Democrats may face vulnerability in swing districts due to Mdani's self-proclaimed democratic socialist stance [16] Challenges and Expectations - Voters expect Mdani to address basic issues like trash, schools, and crime [7] - Mdani has made bold promises like free buses and daycare, creating high expectations [9] - Republicans will scrutinize Mdani's performance to use against him in future elections [9] - Implementing popular proposals may be challenging [24]