Zohran Mamdani unintentionally drew attention to Hinge last month when the New York mayoral candidate shared that he met his wife, Rama Duwaji, through the app. "There's still hope with those dating apps," he said on a podcast shortly before his unexpected win in the Democratic primary. The story spread online, reinforcing the 33-year-old democratic socialist’s image as an ordinary millennial. A later headline in a popular magazine read: “Zohran Mamdani could make history (as the first NYC mayor to meet his wife on Hinge).”
Hinge representatives did not respond to requests for comment, but many New Yorkers reacted, saying they were encouraged to return to the app despite past frustrations. “Now I’m putting in serious effort,” one user posted on social media. “If he found love there, maybe I can too,” another commented.
However, some users may face an obstacle when building their profiles. Along with standard questions—such as habits and education—Hinge asks users to select their political stance: liberal, conservative, moderate, not political, or simply “other.”
For some left-leaning individuals, the “liberal” label doesn’t align with their socialist beliefs, as they associate it with establishment politicians. Conversely, liberals often view policies advocated by Mamdani—such as rent freezes and wealth taxes—as too extreme. Some socialists might prefer to distinguish themselves from centrist liberalism, opting instead for more progressive identifiers.
“There’s strong interest in dating leftists right now,” said Abby Beauregard, an organizer for a socialist group in New York. She noted that Mamdani’s win has sparked fresh energy in the city’s dating scene, but added, “it’s difficult to find spaces specifically for leftist connections. Most apps offer a ‘liberal’ option, but not an explicit leftist one—and ‘other’ is too vague.”
As a result, politically progressive singles are finding clearer ways to express their views on and off dating apps.
Some users craft detailed personal statements in their profiles, outlining their beliefs in response to app prompts. Symbols like watermelon emojis appear as nods to political solidarity, while others explicitly state they won’t match with certain groups.
“Those indicators matter to me,” said Caroline, a 38-year-old Queens florist. “Right now, there’s a positive shift where people openly embrace leftist or communist identities, and it’s refreshing.”
Read next
Let Your Mind Roam, Skip Retirement, and Quit Fretting: Unexpected Strategies to Shield Your Brain from Cognitive Decline
How can thinking about brain change rather than cognitive decline alter the way we think and remember?
Dr Norman Swan: There are three things you need to know which are not widely known.
Think cognitive change not cognitive decline: one way people think about our cognitive function is by comparing
Panic Attack on Public Transport Unveiled a Shocking Secret That Transformed My Life
In 2000, the writer had been living in London for just over a decade and working at EMI Records for five years. Having moved to Brixton from Surrey in the late 1980s, they noticed a growing sense of anxiety and claustrophobia, particularly on public transport.
The situation worsened, leading to
Michelin Chef Opens Overseas Eateries to Counter UK Tax Pressures
A British Michelin‑starred chef says he is opening restaurants abroad to help subsidise his UK venues amid high taxes and a troubled hospitality sector.
Jason Atherton is currently in Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast, where he is readying his newest venture, Maria’s, located in the Principessa