Zohran Mamdani may not solve all of the beleaguered US Democrats’ problems, but the surprise frontrunner in the race for New York mayor does offer hints on how to win back voters and power.The Democrats — shut out of power in the White House and both chambers of Congress — are seen negatively by 63 percent of US voters, according to a July poll in the Wall Street Journal, the party’s lowest approval rating in 30 years.John Kane, a professor of political science at New York University, said the party needs to reconnect with parts of their traditional base, such as lower-income Americans and young voters. Mamdani, a 34-year-old self-described democratic socialist, has developed a plan aimed at luring working-class people and young adults, for whom famously expensive New York is becoming harder and harder to call home.His platform’s highlights include a freeze on rent hikes as well as free bus service and day care.Mamdani’s virulent opposition to President Donald Trump has a strong symbolic appeal for a Democratic base “which feels almost entirely powerless in the present moment,” Kane told AFP.He has a more than 10 point lead over his main rival in the November 4 election for mayor, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, a scandal-tainted veteran Democrat who is running as an independent this time.- ‘Still has some juice’ -“Mamdani is evidence that the American left still has some juice in it in 2025,” said Daniel Schlozman, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University.But New York — America’s biggest city, and an ethnically diverse and historically Democratic one — does not reflect the United States overall, Schlozman said.And while enthusiasm over Mamdani is one thing, his success is “a very different matter from Democrats at large winning the elections they need to win to take control of the House next year, maybe the Senate, and the presidency in 2028,” he added.Schlozman said Mamdani is a compelling leader who understands that issues of affordability in New York are critical, but cautioned that the national electorate is probably not ready for his policies.Democrats would need to address affordability in a very different way from him to satisfy voters even in other Democratic-leaning states, much less swing states that can go either way, he continued.Kane also said that outside large cities, where people are used to seeing all kinds of nationalities and heritages, Mamdani’s origin and religion and his past statements calling the police “racist” might fail to win over some voters. The candidate was born in Uganda to a Muslim family of Indian origin and became a US citizen in 2018.- ‘Right message, wrong messenger’ -Then there is also the risk of Republicans seizing on Mamdani to ridicule Democratic policies, just as Trump has dimissed him as a “little communist” who is too willing to spend taxpayer money.Many in the party “might regard Mamdani as a case of right message, wrong messenger,” said Kane in reference to Mamdani’s policies.Most moderates in the Democratic Party, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — who is from New York — have abstained from endorsing Mamdani so far.”Some moderate Democrats may shy away from Mamdani based on policy stances, while others shy away simply because they don’t view him as an electable candidate at the national level,” said Kane.Indeed, political experts say that New York differs enough from the rest of the United States that it is not necessarily the best place for a Democrat to launch a national campaign.In any case, Mamdani could only go so high in US politics — since he was not born in the United States, he cannot run for president.

Donald Trump told Japan’s new leader Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday that Washington is an ally of the strongest level, as the US president visited Tokyo on an Asia trip taking aim at a trade deal with China.Takaichi greeted Trump at the prime minister’s residence in Tokyo, her first face-to-face meeting with the US leader just days after she took office. “We are an ally at the strongest level, and it’s a great honour to be with you, especially so early in what will be, I think, one of the greatest prime ministers,” he told Takaichi at their meeting.Takaichi also emphasized the nations’ bond, saying “I would like to realise a new golden age of the Japan-US Alliance, where both Japan and the United States will become stronger and also more prosperous.” Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a visit sandwiched between a trip to Malaysia and a meeting in South Korea with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that could ease the bruising trade war between the world’s two biggest economies, sparked by sweeping US tariffs.Negotiators from Beijing and Washington have both confirmed a “framework” has been agreed.In Tokyo, Trump and Takaichi are expected to focus on security and trade between their allied countries.Takashi Ito, a 58-year-old Tokyo resident, said that “what’s important is finding some kind of middle ground” on trade.”Simply pushing to raise tariffs has already created various issues.”On security, long-pacifist Japan is adopting a more muscular military stance as relations with China worsen.Takaichi, a China hawk who last week became the first woman to serve as Japan’s prime minister, said her government would achieve its target of spending two percent of gross domestic product on defence this year — two years ahead of schedule.The United States, which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan, wants Tokyo to spend even more, potentially matching the five percent of GDP pledged by NATO members in June.Yee Kuang Heng, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy, told AFP that in a bid to “deflect US pressure” on Japan to boost defence spending, Takaichi has “preemptively” brought forward the target.Apart from his meeting with Takaichi, Trump is due to deliver a speech on Tuesday on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, docked at the US naval base Yokosuka.He will also have dinner with business leaders, likely including the chairman of carmaker Toyota.- ‘Phenomenal’ -Most Japanese imports into the United States are subject to tariffs of 15 percent, less painful than the 25 percent first threatened but still contributing to a 24-percent slump in US-bound car exports in September in value terms year-on-year.The car industry accounts for around eight percent of jobs in Japan.Under the terms of a July trade deal shared by the White House, Japan is expected to invest $550 billion in the United States.Takaichi will be at pains to establish a good relationship with Trump, who had a close personal relationship with assassinated former premier Shinzo Abe.Trump has said he heard “phenomenal things” about Takaichi, “a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend”.”I think she’s going to be great.”Media reports said Trump is expected to ink deals on critical minerals and shipbuilding, adding to a flurry of agreements signed in Malaysia, where the president kicked off his first Asia tour since returning to office.The greatest prize for Trump — and for global markets — remains a China trade deal.Trump is due to meet Xi on Thursday in South Korea for their first face-to-face talks since the 79-year-old Republican’s return to office in January.”I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to, I think… come away with a deal,” Trump told reporters en route from Malaysia, where comments from US and Chinese negotiators raised hopes of an accord.Trump also indicated he was willing to extend his trip in order to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though no such meeting has been announced.