Dangerous Firebrands: The Rise Of The Bowman-Mamdani Left

Just when you think New York politics couldn’t get any more unhinged, Zohran Mamdani proves otherwise.

Fresh off Jamaal Bowman’s humiliating defeat in the Democratic primary (a man best known for pulling a fire alarm to delay our Congressional vote), Mamdani is assembling a campaign operation to proudly pick up the torch of radicalism. In fact, he has quite literally hired members of Bowman’s staff. Not quietly. Not in the shadows. But proudly and publicly, as if Bowman’s criminal antics and divisive rhetoric are some sort of résumé booster.

This is the modern Democratic Party in New York led by Kathy Hochul: if you’re a firebrand, a defund-the-police zealot, or you support antisemitic mobs, you’re not just welcome, you’re rewarded.

Let’s not forget that Jamaal Bowman wasn’t just “progressive.” He was a disgrace to the office he held. He lied to Capitol Police, downplayed violence against Jews, mocked Israel on the global stage, and repeatedly aligned himself with the worst voices in American politics. And when he was finally held accountable by voters (after years of gaslighting and dangerous rhetoric), what did Zohran Mamdani do?

He opened the door to Bowman’s team and gave them new jobs.

This isn’t accidental. It’s not a coincidence. It’s a warning sign.

Mamdani’s mayoral ambitions are not rooted in lifting working-class New Yorkers or solving the city’s growing public safety crisis. They’re rooted in a dark, toxic ideology, one that rejects the rule of law, targets the Jewish community, and openly works to dismantle the institutions that keep New York safe and strong. This is the same Zohran Mamdani who marched with pro-Hamas protesters after the October 7th massacre. The same Mamdani who refuses to call Hamas a terrorist organization. The same Mamdani who voted against a bill designating baseball as New York’s state sport: not because he had a good reason, but because he wanted to make a political statement about “colonialism.”

And now, this same radical is building a campaign team out of the ashes of Bowman’s collapse, hoping New York City won’t notice the very clear, very dangerous playbook unfolding in front of us.

Let me be clear: this isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about survival. For the Jewish community, for law enforcement, for the families trying to raise children in neighborhoods plagued by rising crime and collapsing trust, this is a line-in-the-sand moment. We’ve watched the Democratic Party in New York slide left for years. We have now reached the point where fire-alarm-pulling obstructionists and open antisemitism aren’t disqualifying—they’re qualifying.

Mamdani and Bowman are part of the same radical ecosystem. They demonize police. They cheer for terrorists. They smear Israel. They scoff at the very idea of justice and security. And they want to control City Hall.

Where is Kathy Hochul on this? Where is Hakeem Jeffries? Let us not forget Laura Gillen who proudly ran under the Working Families Party, a group of “defund the police” radicals. Their choices speak volumes. Because the truth is, they’re scared of their own base. Scared of offending the activist class. Scared of being labeled insufficiently “woke.” And in that fear, they’re allowing extremism to fester right here in the heart of New York.

The Jewish community has every reason to be alarmed. We’re witnessing the rise of a new generation of politicians who do not believe in coexistence, in strength through diversity, and in protecting our shared values. They believe in tearing down, not building up. They believe in grievance, not gratitude. And they are increasingly hostile to the American Jewish experience. When Mamdani surrounds himself with Bowman’s people, he’s sending a message: the path to power runs through division, not unity. Through protest, not policy. Through radicalism, not results.

It’s not just who he hires—it’s what he stands for. Mamdani has called for abolishing prisons, defunding the NYPD, and turning New York into a socialist laboratory complete with government-run grocery stores. He’s voted against common-sense safety legislation and cozied up to groups that have harassed Jews on the streets of Manhattan.

This is the person whom the Democratic Party of New York wants to hand the keys to New York City.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the lights really could go out on Broadway, not just metaphorically, but literally, if this vision of lawless, radical governance takes hold.

Because make no mistake: Mamdani isn’t alone. He’s part of a growing squad of extremists who view traditional American values: hard work, faith, family, and patriotism, as obstacles to be torn down. And they’re counting on the rest of us to stand by silently while they do it.

We can’t.

We won’t.

It’s time for the Jewish community and every New Yorker who values safety, sanity, and strength, to rise up and say enough. Enough tolerating and supporting elected officials who have yet to earn our trust. Enough antisemitism. Enough crime. Enough pretending that people like Bowman and Mamdani are “progressive.” They’re not. They’re dangerous.

I’ve always been present. I’ve always put my words to action. I’ve always shown up. I’ve always proven my love and loyalty to this great city and this great nation. I stand proudly with those who speak out, even when it’s inconvenient. I stand with law enforcement. I stand with the Jewish people. And I will never back down from calling out radicals who threaten our way of life. I will never back down from calling out those who stay silent and remain complicit. I will never back down from speaking out against those in government and politics who have yet to show real support to Jewish causes and the State of Israel but expect support because of the office they hold. Respect and financial support must be earned and proven—not an entitlement for winning an election.

Mamdani has not only inherited Bowman’s staff, he has also inherited his disgraceful conduct and ideas. And if New Yorkers pay attention, they’ll send him packing the same way they did Bowman.

Because this isn’t just about politics. It’s about protecting our communities, defending our values, and ensuring that the next generation grows up in a city where leadership means courage—not chaos. n

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Inspector General of the Department of Labor. Previously, he served in Congress, representing New York’s 4th Congressional District. Anthony served as a Councilman in the Town of Hempstead after retiring from the NYPD as a highly decorated Detective. He also served as Chief of the Island Park Fire Department and helped lead the all-volunteer organization’s response to Super-Storm Sandy. The Congressman appears frequently on Fox News, Newsmax, ABC National News, and 77 WABC Sid and Friends in the Morning. To contact, email [email protected].