State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani‘s upset victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during New York‘s Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday puts establishment Democrats in a tough position.

A self-proclaimed socialist with less than five years of legislative experience under his belt, Mamdani, 33, built a grassroots campaign centered on affordability that promised to bring working-class voters a slew of progressive policies, including raising taxes on rich people, providing free public buses and child care, freezing rent in subsidized units, and creating government-run grocery stores.

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Backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a top New York progressive and fellow socialist, Mamdani’s candidacy marked both the generational and ideological tensions brewing within the Democratic Party. In the millennial-versus-baby boomer race, Mamdani was swift to challenge the more traditional policies espoused by Cuomo, 67, an establishment favorite often portrayed as a centrist who has spent decades cementing his status in New York’s political scene.

When Mamdani shocked pundits by emerging as the leading contender in the mayoral race Tuesday evening, capturing the initial victory in a race in which nearly 1 million ballots were cast, Democratic strategists warned establishment holdouts, many of whom declined to back either candidate, to take note.

“What’s happening in NYC is a blaringly loud message to those in the Dem establishment who still cling to old politics, recite focus-grouped talking points, and are too afraid to say what needs to be said,” said Dan Pfeiffer, a host of Pod Save America, an influential podcast within the Democratic political sphere. “We have a lot to learn from @ZohranKMamdani and his campaign.”

His words come as the Democratic Party, which has struggled to rebound after bruising losses at nearly every level of government last fall, appears to be at a crossroads: embrace an increasingly powerful faction of progressive members such as Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, who have managed to build out impressive victories by appealing to working-class voters, or stick by more traditional tactics espoused by powerful party leaders such Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Pleiffer’s condemnation of “afraid” politicians comes after Schumer and Jeffries, two of New York’s top Democrats, notably stayed out of endorsing any candidate during the race.

Backing Cuomo would have likely been an unpopular move, as the candidate was plagued with years of political baggage, including criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and sexual harassment allegations, which led him to resign as governor.

But endorsing a candidate such as Mamdani also invited political controversy. While popular among New York’s more left-wing voter base, overt socialists are less electorally successful nationally, and the mayoral candidate has also been viewed as holding numerous other liabilities, including his support for the Defund the Police movement and intense criticism of Israel. Mamdani has been called antisemitic for defending the controversial phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews, and defending the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which protests the only Jewish state. Such positioning stands in contrast to Democratic establishment leaders, such as Schumer, who have broadly embraced Israel.

Mamdani’s stunning performance Tuesday evening puts Schumer and other establishment leaders in a tough spot: either they withhold support and risk being primaried themselves by more progressive lawmakers or endorse him and risk alienating centrists.

Centrist Democrats have already warned that the preliminary election results were “alarming.”

“It is extremely alarming that the only candidates who genuinely excite our voters are the ones making absolutely insane promises on politically toxic positions,” a Democratic strategist told Politico. “Leaving us in the spot of trying to execute on bad policy and losing terribly, or failing to keep our promises and reinforcing the idea that all politics is bulls***.”

Whether establishment elders decide to embrace or reject Mamdani, his campaign message that led the dark-horse candidate to defeat Cuomo could be a model for how Democrats can win back a coalition of working-class voters from the Republican Party, which received record support from the voting bloc last year.

That message was built around affordability, an economic focus embraced by influential progressives such as Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX).

“That’s a message that resonates with all different kinds of voters, from Democrats to independents and even former Trump voters who are looking for a political home right now,” Casar recently told the Texas Tribune.

Mamdani, who hopes to be the first socialist in City Hall, credited the economic emphasis for delivering him results during a victory speech Tuesday.

CUOMO CONCEDES NYC MAYORAL PRIMARY TO MAMDANI IN GOLIATH UPSET FOR SOCIALIST OVER EX-GOVERNOR

“We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford,” he told supporters. “A city where they can do more than just struggle. One where those who toil in the night can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the day.”

“Tonight we made history,” Mamdani boasted.”Now let us lead this city into one that is affordable for each and every New Yorker.”