In a revealing interview with CBS News this week, Connecticut’s Democrat Governor Ned Lamont didn’t shy away from praising Zohran Mamdani, a far-left New York City mayoral hopeful who recently won his party’s primary. Lamont didn’t just acknowledge Mamdani’s rise—he called him “a big deal” and “transformative.” For those keeping score, Mamdani is a self-described Democratic Socialist, and his platform reads like a checklist of big-government, high-cost progressive experiments.
But here’s the part that should concern hardworking taxpayers, not just in New York, but across the country: Lamont admitted that Connecticut has already adopted—or is actively embracing—several of Mamdani’s radical ideas.
“I think he is a big deal. I think he’s transformative,” Lamont said. “I love what he’s doing on universal pre-K for everybody, same thing that we’re doing right here. Talk about free bus service for folks, we did that all during COVID as well.”
In one breath, Lamont applauded a hard-left candidate’s expansive, government-run policies—and in the next, touted that Connecticut is already on the same track.
While phrases like “universal pre-K” and “free bus service” may sound compassionate on the surface, they come with real costs—and often, real consequences. As The Daily Wire has noted in past coverage, many of these policies, when implemented without reform or accountability, balloon government spending, strain public services, and shift the burden onto taxpayers who are already stretched thin.
Even more concerning: Mamdani’s housing agenda, which emphasizes government-controlled affordability mandates and curbs on local zoning control. It’s an approach that sidelines free-market solutions in favor of central planning—something Lamont hinted he’s open to bringing to Connecticut.
“Affordable housing is the biggest key to affordability in our state and I think across the country,” Lamont stated, adding that “towns need to take the lead on the issue.”
On the surface, this may sound reasonable. But many conservatives see the warning signs: this language has often preceded aggressive state or federal efforts to override local communities’ decision-making on housing and force dense, subsidized developments into suburban neighborhoods—all in the name of “equity.”
From NYC to CT: A Broader Progressive Blueprint?
Mamdani’s political platform includes:
- Taxpayer-funded housing developments
- Abolishing ICE
- Free transit
- Massive education spending increases
- An expanded welfare state
This isn’t just a New York City issue. As The Federalist has pointed out, the growing influence of Democratic Socialists within local government marks a dangerous trend toward federal-style overreach at the state level—without the accountability that comes from broader voter scrutiny.
That’s why Lamont’s comments matter. It’s not just that he’s praising Mamdani—it’s that he’s validating and quietly implementing parts of his agenda in a blue-state laboratory that often serves as a testing ground for progressive experiments.
And with President Biden embracing similar rhetoric on transit, housing, and universal childcare, the line between “local” and “national” policy is getting thinner.
For families trying to raise kids, own a home, or simply commute to work without being buried under higher taxes or burdensome regulation, Lamont’s quiet alignment with Mamdani’s socialist vision should raise eyebrows.
This isn’t about helping the middle class—it’s about growing the state, shrinking local autonomy, and making everyday Americans more dependent on government services. The bigger the promises, the bigger the bills—and guess who ends up paying for it?
So while the media frames Mamdani as a fresh face and Lamont as a pragmatic moderate, conservatives should read between the lines: the progressive machine is alive and well in New England—and it’s being normalized under the radar.
