Students who have been paying attention to the political landscape over the last year might have noticed a rise in the popularity of extremism on both the left and the right. Figures like Zohran Mamdani and Nick Fuentes might have been outcast long shots 10 years ago, but now they are seen as some of the most popular players in politics.
So what makes Mamdani and Fuentes so intriguing, especially for a younger voting base? The answer lies in the current climate of the country and the messages the two are sending.
According to Kirkwood Community College professor Steve Owen, several factors contribute to this shift toward the far left and right. “Polling data for individuals in the United States showing higher levels of toleration for potential violence in pursuit of their side’s political aims is troubling,” he said.
Mamdani, who at just 34 is set to become the next mayor of New York City on Jan. 1, ran as a self-described democratic socialist who believes in making the city more affordable for residents. During the campaign, Mamdani laid out a plan for how he would accomplish that. One of his main proposals was freezing rent on nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments throughout the city. Another was raising corporate taxes to nearly 11.5%, an increase of about 3 percentage points.
What makes Mamdani controversial for the left is that there has been no one like him running for a major mayoral office in the United States before. Many established members of the Democratic Party, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, took months to endorse him due to policy differences that separate the party’s traditional coalition from a far-left socialist like Mamdani.
His victory was a sign of the times for young voters across New York City, with more than 75% of 18- to 29-year-olds voting for him and his agenda. What is clear is that Mamdani’s far-left approach has captured the hearts of a youth that often feels lost and left behind.
On the opposite extreme is Nick Fuentes and his “America First” movement, which has captivated young voters on the far right. Fuentes, 27, has been a figure in the conservative movement for nearly a decade, dating back to Donald Trump’s first term. But he has seen a surge in mainstream visibility since the beginning of 2025. The America First movement, led by Fuentes, promotes a pro-white society that preserves a white, Christian identity.
Fuentes has been labeled a radical extremist by many on the right, mainly for his views on the war in Gaza. While many Republicans have been quick to support Israel, Fuentes has gone against the party’s position, claiming that Jewish influence is the reason Republicans back the war.
Due to his growing popularity—mainly among young white men—some have said that in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, Fuentes is the future of the youth conservative movement.
Even if students haven’t heard of either of these candidates around campus, they are likely to in day-to-day life. Fuentes and Mamdani are becoming increasingly popular on many college campuses, and Kirkwood may be one of them as time goes on. Their messages, although far outside the political norm, are gaining mainstream traction quickly among college-age students.
Categories: National News, News
