The Trump-to-Mamdani voter is real. How does the trend affect the midterms?
Exit polls suggest 9 percent of Trump voters backed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, despite ideological differences.
Experts say crossover voters are often drawn to populists who speak to kitchen-table issues like the economy, as well as disillusionment with parties.
New York City, United States – Ron Barba, 56, voted for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year. He also voted for United States President Donald Trump the year before.
One is a democratic socialist. The other is a deep-red Republican. Barba, a tall, outgoing man with bright eyes and a chin dotted with white stubble, knows the two politicians hail from opposite ends of the political spectrum. He does not care.
That is why political chameleons like Barba — who span the political spectrum, voting for dramatically different candidates — are a source of fascination at the highest levels of government.