The Commie Corridor is a term coined in 2025 in the political culture of the United States to refer to neighborhoods in New York City stretching from western Queens to western Brooklyn that have consistently supported left-wing and socialist politicians on the municipal, state, and federal level since the mid-2010s.[1] The growing trend of left-wing politics in these neighborhoods has largely been drawn to the growth of socialist organizations in this region, particularly the Democratic Socialists of America.[2]
As these neighborhoods have proven the core base of support for several left-wing politicians in the city, most notably of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and mayor Zohran Mamdani, it is speculated that further shifts to the left in the city are likely to be derived from the increasingly relevant corridor.[3]
Origin
The term was first coined by political analyst Michael Lange, describing Zohran Mamdani's base of support during the 2025 Democratic primary race for mayor, describing it as "The young and hungry leftist base, stretching from Astoria to Sunset Park, reshaping politics in New York City" in a Substack post titled "How Zohran Mamdani can win". In that article, Lange describes the corridor as having been the base of support for Cynthia Nixon's 2018 primary challenge to then-governor Andrew Cuomo and Maya Wiley's 2021 run for New York City mayor.[4][5][bettersourceneeded]
While there is no formal political party which most socialists in the corridor belong to besides the Democratic Party, there are various political organizations which hold considerable influence on left-wing politics there regardless, the DSA chief among them.[11]
The logo of the Democratic Socialists of America's New York chapter.
The Democratic Socialists of America have had a local chapter since the 1980s, though have only held serious influence in the corridor following Ocasio-Cortez' 2018 primary challenge to 10-term incumbent then-representative Joe Crowley and Julia Salazar's election to the state senate. Since then, various democratic socialists have been elected in the corridor with support from the DSA, including an additional state senator[12] and a total of seven state assembly members.[13]
Further, the Working Families Party has supported left-wing progressives (though not necessarily socialist) in various races across the state thanks to New York's fusion balloting laws, permitting a candidate to be supported by more than one party at once.[14] While the WFP's footprint is less felt than the DSA in the corridor, it nevertheless supports progressives in Democratic primaries and in general elections.[15]
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