Zohran Mamdani's stunning upset in last month's primary is still reverberating, which is why we were eager to talk with his pollster, Jane Rayburn of Workbench Strategy, on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast to understand just how he pulled it off. Rayburn pulls back the curtain to explain how her firm captured the sentiments of a radically reshaped electorate, why Mamdani wanted a two-person race, and when she knew he could actually win. Plus, the challenges of polling a ranked-choice contest!

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also delve into two major Republicans who announced retirements just before the Fourth of July: Thom Tillis in North Carolina and Don Bacon in Nebraska. Why are they bailing? Who has the inside track to succeed them? And what exactly is Lara Trump's job? We do our level best to answer all of these questions!

Zohran Mamdani pulled off one of the most astonishing upsets of all time on Tuesday, so we've devoted this week's entire episode of The Downballot podcast to understanding how it happened and what it all means.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard discuss how Mamdani drew out new voters and forged an unlikely multi-ethnic coalition through his singular emphasis on affordability—a stark contrast to Andrew Cuomo's old-school campaign (or lack thereof) and his reliance on dark money.

The Davids also look ahead to November and explain why Mamdani remains the frontrunner despite Wall Street's panic. They conclude by emphasizing the lessons Democrats should learn from the race, including the most important of all: act like a winner.

We're diving deep into New York City's many-layered Democratic primary for mayor on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. Polls keep showing Andrew Cuomo in the lead, but is it big enough to stop a late surge by Zohran Mamdani? Will Brad Lander's arrest by federal agents give him a last-minute jolt? And will we see any more alliances like the recent Mamdani-Lander cross-endorsement? We explore all these questions and many more.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also recap Virginia's fascinating primary results, including why Richmond's former mayor did so poorly in his hometown. They then look ahead to November as Democrats display unity while the Republican ticket is in shambles. And finally, one of the winners of the Second Annual Downballot Awards is back in the news, and it's for a good reason!