'Ironic and so interesting': Erika Kirk questions women's support for Zohran Mamdani

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative figure Charlie Kirk and CEO of Turning Point USA, expressed her thoughts on the support Zohran Mamdani received from young women in the New York City mayoral election. Speaking at the 2025 DealBook Summit hosted by the New York Times, she found it "ironic" that many career-driven women backed Zohran Mamdani. Kirk explained that some of these women appear to view the government as a substitute for family structures, particularly when it comes to relationships. She cautioned against a mindset where government assistance could become a replacement for the traditional support system found within a marriage or family.

Also Read: UK's Ofcom fines porn company $1.3 million for age verification lapses

Kirk's concern is that women, especially in a city like New York, might delay family life or marriage in favor of relying on government programs. "What I don't want to see is young women thinking the government is a substitute for starting a family or having a marriage," she was quoted as saying at the event.

Watch the video here

She stressed on the importance of mutual support in relationships, with spouses relying on each other instead of depending on state aid. In this context, she found it especially striking that a significant portion of Zohran Mamdani’s supporters were women, given his platform and progressive policies.

Zohran Mamdani elected as NYC mayor

Zohran Mamdani, 34, made history as the first Muslim candidate to win a major New York City mayoral primary. The campaign, which saw him defeat former governor Andrew Cuomo, gained attention not only for Mamdani's policies but for his identity as a Muslim and the Islamophobia he claimed to have encountered during his candidacy. Mamdani presents himself as an activist and organiser who uses his diverse experiences in fields like film, rap, and writing to inspire social action.