Erika Kirk, chief executive of Turning Point USA, said she found it “ironic” that a significant share of women backed Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election, arguing that many young, career-focused women in the city view government as a substitute for traditional family structures. Kirk made the remarks during a session at the NYT’s 2025 DealBook Summit.
Asked why she believed Mamdani was able to persuade younger voters, particularly women, Kirk drew on her years living in Manhattan. She said that in her view, “career-driven women in New York almost look to the government as a form of replacement for certain things, for relationship wise.” Kirk argued that this mindset could influence how some women prioritise life choices, adding, “What I don’t want to happen is young women in the city look at the government as a solution to put off having a family or a marriage.”She suggested that dependence on state support could replace the type of mutual support offered within marriages, saying women should not rely on the government “instead of being united with a husband where you can support your husband and he can support you.” Kirk said this trend made it “so ironic and so interesting that a heavy percentage of individuals who voted for him were female.”Kirk speaking about the political dynamics urged more conversations across ideological lines and expressing concern about divisions within the Republican Party.
