As the first Chief Marketing Officer of New York City, I’ve seen how hard it is to capture the attention of New Yorkers, let alone inspire them. The city may never sleep, but folks scroll fast, forget faster, and spot inauthenticity instantly.

That’s why Zohran Mamdani’s campaign is worth studying and not for its policies, but for its marketing . His team doesn’t just post on social media; they produce cinematic, highly shareable content featuring real New Yorkers, tapping into trending songs and memes. And they collaborate with influencers like Subway Takes, The Kid Mero, and Emily Ratajkowski — and even ran clever spots during The Golden Bachelor and Survivor.

Mamdani isn’t campaigning like a politician. He’s marketing like a brand. And the ROI is clear.

And with the average age of

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