Overview

• Rep. Adam Smith told Fox News Sunday that Zohran Mamdani “isn’t speaking for our party” and described the Democrats as a “big tent” coalition.
• Smith emphasized that winning the New York City mayoralty has never conferred national party leadership and called for a renewed focus on core policy issues.
• Media scrutiny of Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform and the optics of his candidacy prompted Smith to deflect questions toward policy contrasts with President Trump.
• Mamdani’s agenda—which includes rent freezes, free transit and wealth taxes—has drawn progressive endorsements and Republican attacks.
• Independent general-election bids by Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams under ranked-choice voting have fragmented the field and heightened Democratic concerns over vote splitting.