Republican leaders hope the ascent of the NYC mayoral candidate, a democratic socialist, will help them paint the Democrats as a far-left party.

The 33-year-old state lawmaker has gone from aspiring rapper to the Democratic candidate for New York City's next mayor. How did he get here?

Rep. Elise Stefanik, another New York Republican rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial run, declared on X that Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul must be in “full-blown panic mode” and warned that “New Yorkers will defeat you to save our state.”