How to Lose 2026: Believing New York City Speaks for America

Why National Democrats Can't Hitch Their Wagon to Urban Shakeups Alone

How to Lose 2026: Believing New York City Speaks for America

Why National Democrats Can't Hitch Their Wagon to Urban Shakeups Alone

First, there are a lot of you reading this who are from New York. Breathe easy. This isn’t about you personally. This is about the political culture of New York City, not about individuals like yourself who just happen to live there.

It’s like when someone says, “Dogs can be mean as hell!” It doesn’t mean most dogs are vicious.

It’s a generalization built around the small percentage of dogs that have actually demonstrated a proclivity for biting—but the phrasing makes it sound like we’re talking about all dogs. We’re not.

And I’m not talking about every New Yorker…either.

What I am talking about is a specific political environment…a very loud pocket of the party…that likes to parade around as if it speaks for the whole country.

That’s the dog with teeth I’m addressing here. So if you’re a New Yorker who knows the difference…you’re not the target…stick around…you might just agree with me by the end. If it turns out that you don’t…no harm, no foul.***

Let’s dive in…

Another so-called political earthquake out of New York City

This time it’s Zohran Mamdani, the self-proclaimed Democratic socialist who just knocked Andrew Cuomo flat in the Democratic primary.

The headlines are screaming. The consultants are drooling. The left-wing media can’t pump out the think pieces fast enough.

And here’s the part where I say what most of them won’t:

Democrats—be careful. New York City is not a weather vane for America. It’s not even a good thermometer.

You want to win New York City? Sure. Take a hard-left progressive stance…promise free public services on every corner…rail against landlords…and bash billionaires until your voice gives out. It works there. It’s been working there for years.

But if you think Zohran Mamdani’s win is a green light for the Democratic Party to nationalize that playbook…you’re about to drive this bus right off a cliff.

Big Cities Love a Revolution—The Rest of the Country Doesn’t

There’s a reason New York City politics looks the way it does.

It’s a city packed with young voters…renters…public transit riders…and activists. It’s a place where political machines still churn…but they’ve learned to speak fluent progressivism because the streets demand it.

But the national electorate? That’s a different planet.

Suburban moms in Pennsylvania aren’t lining up for free bus campaigns. Retirees in Arizona aren’t fired up about rent caps in Queens. Rural independents in Wisconsin aren’t losing sleep over the idea that the city council in Brooklyn voted to defund something last week.

They are not New York City. They never were. They never will be.

And here’s the brutal truth:

Democrats keep making the mistake of thinking the loudest pockets of their party are also the biggest. They’re not.

Loud Doesn’t Mean Large

Yes, Mamdani’s win was a big deal—for New York City.

But let’s look at the math. He won the primary with about 43.5% of first-preference votes. He crushed Cuomo with a machine that knocked on over one million doors and activated a young…fired-up…deeply progressive base.

But that’s not a national base.

It’s a local insurgency with tight…city-centric messaging. And here’s where Democrats always seem to miss the turn: they confuse momentum with universality.

Just because something caught fire in one district or one city doesn’t mean it scales to the country. In fact, more often than not…it doesn’t.

Remember the “defund the police” movement?
It burned hot in cities. It got hashtags. It filled streets.
And what happened? The messaging blew up down-ballot.

Democrats got crushed in House races and in swing districts because suburban voters ran for the exits.

You know who didn’t run on that message? Joe Biden.
You know who won in 2020? Joe Biden.

There’s a lesson there…but apparently…some folks would rather repeat the mistake than learn it.

Be Careful Who You’re Speaking To

I get it. Progressives are fired up. They should be. They’ve been winning battles in places like New York…Boston…and San Francisco. They’ve built real political muscle in cities…and they’ve earned their victories.

But here’s what I know after a lifetime of working with people..and as a consultant for large companies (having been hired because of my expertise in the area of human behavior):

You’ve got to know your audience.

New York City isn’t Scranton. It’s not Phoenix. It’s not Kenosha.
You can’t sell a New York City message to an Ohio crowd and expect them to eat it up. They won’t. They’ll vote the other way—hard.

Why? Because people vote for what protects their world.

New Yorkers want free buses because they ride them every day.
Suburban families in Georgia don’t care. They want safe streets…lower gas prices…and schools that don’t turn their kids into political ping-pong balls.

If Democrats forget that—if they nationalize this latest New York win as if it’s some golden blueprint for 2026—they’re going to repeat the 2010 disaster in slow motion.

Don’t Mistake a Primary for a Mandate

Primaries are like niche markets.

They attract the most passionate…the most engaged…and the most ideologically driven voters. Great. But that’s not America. That’s the inner circle.

Winning a primary by exciting your base does not guarantee you can carry a general election filled with independents…moderates…and casual voters who just want the noise turned down.

And guess what? Mamdani now has to face the general election.

He’s up against independents like Cuomo and Adams. He’s going to have to convince people outside the progressive echo chamber that he’s not just the guy who knocked off the old guard—he’s the guy who can actually lead a city of eight million.

That’s a different fight. And it’s one Democrats keep losing when they bring niche messaging into a mainstream battle.

Follow the Money, Not Just the Movement

You know who’s not making the mistake of misreading the map?

The big donors. The hedge fund types. The Wall Street sharks.

They’re hedging. They’re quietly backing more moderate candidates. They know the left can win primaries—but they also know the left has a nasty habit of face-planting in general elections.

There’s a reason Andrew Cuomo raised over $7.7 million by mid-June.

Bloomberg’s in his corner. Bill Ackman’s writing checks.

That’s not just money—it’s confidence from people who know how to read risk.

The smart money isn’t panicking over Mamdani’s win. They’re watching…but they’re not betting the house.

That tells you something.

The Bottom Line

Democrats, be careful.

New York City is not America.

What works in Queens does not necessarily work in Michigan.
The loudest voices in the room are not always the most strategic.

Mamdani’s win is a real event…but it’s a local win. It’s not a national movement. And if Democrats run full-speed ahead thinking they’ve found the new national model…they’re setting themselves up to lose—and lose big—in 2026.

This isn’t about who’s right. It’s about who can win.

You want to change the country? Win elections.
You want to win elections? Start by understanding that what electrifies New York might electrify swing voters—for the other team.

P.S. Oh, one more thing: the last time Democrats over-read their progressive wins and thought they had a national movement…they lost over 1,000 seats at the state and federal levels in just a few years.

So let me say it plain:

You can either listen to the echo chamber, or you can listen to the country. One gets you headlines. The other gets you the White House.

Choose wisely.

Helping Democrats Win Means Telling Them What They Don’t Want to Hear

I don’t think anyone detests Trump or the Trump administration as much as I do. There is no such thing as the “Republican” party any longer. It’s gone.

It’s long been the Trump party—and that comes with some of the worst, most unqualified people ever to serve in an administration. It’s a dumpster fire of sycophants, grifters, and clowns.

As such, I have only one interest at this point: Doing everything I can to help increase the odds that as few of these Trump-supporting clowns get elected or keep their seats. Period.

Some Democrats accuse me of trying to sabotage the party’s success.

Let me put it bluntly: only the least aware and least knowledgeable people could come to that conclusion—if they’re actually reading what I write.

Everything I hammer out on my keyboard regarding elections is aimed squarely at helping Democrats WIN.

I’m not here to coddle the party’s bad habits…ignore strategic missteps…or pat people on the back while they walk into another 2010-style bloodbath.

I’m here to tell the uncomfortable truth…because uncomfortable truth is what wins elections.

Pretending every shiny progressive primary win is a national mandate? That’s how you lose swing voters…lose middle America…and lose the race that actually matters.

If you care more about feeling good than winning…I’m not your guy.

But if you care about building real strategy…winning over independents…and making sure Republicans aren’t holding the steering wheel in 2026…you’re exactly who I’m writing for.

I’m not tearing down the party—I’m trying to keep it from walking into a wall. I regularly tell people, “If that offends you…you might be more interested in feeling giddy than results. I’m here for results.”

If you like this kind of straight…no-nonsense…cut-through-the-bull content…become a paid subscriber. When it comes to election specific issues of JHN…I don’t write to make you feel good—I write to help you win. If that’s what you’re after…you’re in the right place.

Coming Tomorrow: How to Unlock More Energy and Mental Clarity Without Spending a Dime

Tomorrow, for paid subscribers, I’m dropping a no-fluff, step-by-step “How to” guide that shows exactly how you can do three simple…cost-free…and brief actions each day that dramatically increase your energy and clear your mind.

All three being perfect for helping keep those who love democracy in the fight!

It’s all practical, actionable, and built to move how you feel and how much mental clarity you have. If you want to win…you’ll want to read this.

I’ll be back soon…with even more!

Warmly,

Jack