A statement from Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates on New York State Senator Zohran Mamdani’s electoral victory in the race for Mayor of New York:
Two years ago, a multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational movement of everyday voters elected a middle school teacher—son of Black migrants who utilized the Greenbook to escape the horrors of Mississippi’s fascist Jim Crow Laws—to lead the city of Chicago. And tonight, in New York City, that same powerful coalition of working-class people has done it again—this time electing the son of an immigrant, Zohran Mamdani, as the next mayor of the largest city in the country.
Running on a platform rooted in the realities of working families, including lowering the cost of living, expanding affordable housing, and uplifting the poor, Mamdani’s success is a clear signal of what’s possible when candidates center the lived experiences of the people they serve instead of the billionaire class. It shows what happens when politics is no longer just about power, but about purpose.
More than just bold policies that make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, Mamdani’s campaign modeled a new path forward for both the country and the Democratic Party. Rather than merely talking about Black, Latine, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant voters, his campaign showed up by listening and building trust and power. They didn’t just ask for votes; they built a movement that honors the needs of low income and poor families.
The Chicago Teachers Union represents more than 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in Chicago Public Schools, and by extension, the more than 300,000 students and families they serve. The CTU is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers and is the third-largest teachers local in the United States. For more information please visit the CTU website at www.ctulocal1.org.
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