In a political upset shaking New York City and rippling across the nation, self-described Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani has secured the Democratic nomination for mayor, effectively guaranteeing his election in the deep-blue city.

The nomination marks a dramatic shift in America’s largest city and has ignited swift criticism from Americans.

Mamdani defeated former governor and Democratic establishment figure Andrew Cuomo by running on a platform to tax the wealthy, create government-run grocery stores, support Palestinian causes, and defund the NYPD, reported Newsweek.

New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America celebrated the result, writing, “This historic victory of working people over the oligarchs extends throughout the city and into the City Council,” citing the win of fellow socialist Councilmember Alexa Avilés, who campaigned without corporate PAC money.

The win has generated intense reaction across the political spectrum, particularly in Republican-led Texas, where concerns over rising Islamic and socialist influence have been escalating.

“The leading Mayoral candidate in one of our largest cities is a Muslim socialist who wants to defund the police and globalize the intifada. This isn’t the America you grew up in,” Texas Congressman Brandon Gill wrote on X. “Mass migration is fundamentally transforming our communities—and the electorate. It has to stop.”

Tim Young, a conservative commentator, added, “The next Mayor of New York wants to have government owned grocery stores… Enjoy your bread lines. NYC is about to become even worse of a dump.”

Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French warned the shift isn’t isolated to New York. “Similarly, people ask how could Texas be in play? Perhaps it’s because we have at least 5.5 million foreign born here too,” French wrote on X.

Concerns over Islamic political influence have been mounting in Texas for months.

As The Dallas Express previously reported, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into EPIC City—a controversial real estate venture tied to the East Plano Islamic Center. Paxton sent formal records requests to multiple municipalities amid questions over potential legal violations and remarks from EPIC figure Yasir Qadhi, who claimed local officials were backing the project.

The Texas Legislature responded by passing House Bill 4211, a measure banning Sharia-compliant enclaves and religious governance in Texas communities. Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law on June 19.

Adding to tensions, the City of Richardson recently elected a Democratic Muslim candidate, Amir Omar, as mayor. Omar, endorsed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), won with 55% of the vote, defeating incumbent Mayor Bob Dubey, reported Fox 4 News.

CAIR, a group with a controversial political footprint, claims its mission is to “empower American Muslims” and “promote justice.”

With Mamdani poised to lead New York City, questions are surfacing over the city’s future as America’s financial capital.

Major business leaders have already expressed concern.

“We may consider closing our supermarkets and selling the business,” Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes chain, commented in The Free Press, reported The New York Times.

“I will never move from New York, but there’s a lot of other people that will and are leaving New York,” Neil Blumenthal, the co-founder and co-C.E.O. of Warby Parker, said, reported NYT.

The New York Stock Exchange Texas has secured its new home in Dallas. The NYSE Texas will occupy 28,000 square feet at Harlan Crow’s Old Parkland, a business center known for its family offices. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported that Trump Media & Technology Group became the inaugural company listed on the state’s first securities exchange.

NYC, the nation’s financial hub, is losing businesses such as Goldman Sachs to Dallas due to its affordability and space, reported AXIOS.

With financial giants like Goldman Sachs already shifting operations south, and now with a socialist mayor-elect looming, many fear that New York City’s era as America’s financial hub may soon come to an end, while cities like Dallas rise in its place.