On October 26th, a chilly fall evening, a large crowd gathered in support of the then-hopeful candidate for mayor, Zohran Mamdani. He was surrounded by people of various backgrounds, cultures, and ages, all united by the same goal: improving New York City. I was one of the lucky few who got to be in that crowd, a dedicated volunteer with a firsthand view of how grassroots change is built.
My Campaign Experience: In the beginning of this mayoral race, many people were unsure.. New Yorkers were deeply worried about the state of the City with our current mayor, Eric Adams. Figures like former Governor Andrew Cuomo seemed to have a chance at winning. But there was a different figure in that race, someone with a clear dream to change New York City for the better: Zohran Mamdani, the candidate who would become our current mayor.
My time on the campaign began in September. With a little encouragement from my mom and brother, I started knocking on doors in Midtown. That first experience was unforgettable. Then, throughout the rest of September and into October, I switched my focus to the West Village. It was there that I met some amazing people from the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), who became my canvassing team.
I usually left home early on Sundays and made my way to the location sent to me by my group leader. Even though it only took 10 to 15 minutes to get there, I was almost always early. I would confirm my arrival with the leader, and we would wait a bit longer for the rest of the team. Before we began, the leader would explain our door-knocking strategy, hand out fliers, and we would take a group photo.
We used the app “Minivan” to navigate our routes and find the doors we needed to hit. The whole effort always lasted three hours, after which we’d meet up in a park. We’d chat about what happened on our routes and blow off steam by making fun of the opposition, usually Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo. I’d then take the train home, rest, and wait for the next time I could go out later in the week.
The Good & The Bad: Volunteering had its pros and cons, but the positives were huge. I am now somewhat involved with the New York City DSA chapter, and I became so well-known in the campaign that I was an invited guest at a few events during the mayoral race—a fantastic reward for the effort.
However, there were difficult parts, too. I often heard people say things like, “but he’s gonna do this!” or other discouraging remarks. I distinctly remember one time I was canvassing and got a rude response. I apologized and moved to the next door on the same floor, only to hear the first person walk out of their house and start yelling at me. I quickly and quietly walked out, realizing that passion on the streets sometimes comes with hostility.
Ways to Get Involved: If my experience motivates you, there are many ways to get involved in politics. The midterms are always coming, and you don’t have to dedicate huge chunks of time. You can search for your preferred candidate for a seat in the House or Senate and see if they need campaign volunteers.
You can also create free supportive ads on social media for that person, or simply try emailing the candidate or their campaign manager. Every action helps.
If you want to get involved in politics, then you should absolutely go for it. Instead of worrying about what’s happening, get involved! Start trying to help a cause or a side you deeply believe in. There are so many elections happening, and grassroots work is what makes a difference. You have the power to step off the sidelines and into the political process.
