SHOCKER: Communist Zohran Mamdani ran for high school office on platform of free juice

Mamdani, who ran unsuccessfully for class vice president as a junior, shared in a 2017 podcast that his campaign included free juice and gym credits for attending school sporting events. “Ultimately an unsuccessful run,” he admitted, adding that the other candidate “whooped my ass in that election.” A teacher reportedly told him his rap-themed campaign video likely cost him the race, according to CNBC.

The resurfaced high school bid has sparked ridicule, particularly as Mamdani’s current platform includes proposals such as free city buses, rent freezes on stabilized apartments, and government-run grocery stores. The self-described socialist, labeled by some critics as a communist, has positioned himself on the far left of the political spectrum for his support of polices that require massive amounts of government intervention.

Though Mamdani graduated from Bronx Science, he has advocated abolishing the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), calling the test a product of systemic racism. In 2022, he said eliminating it was necessary to confront “the ongoing effect of slavery, racism, colonialism and discrimination.”

“As a graduate of Bronx Science, I have personally witnessed just how segregated New York City public schools are, especially our specialized high school,” Mamdani said at the time. “I support measures to integrate our public schools and fully fund our education system, including the abolition of the SHSAT.”

Mamdani has also called for the abolition of the NYPD in the past, framing it as a step toward “queer liberation.” While his campaign has since toned down anti-police rhetoric, he continues to support progressive reforms such as cashless bail and has previously described violent crime as “an artificial construction.”