Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist, is set to take the helm of New York City, promising a transformative overhaul of its government. Yet, even before officially stepping into one of the country's most scrutinized political roles, he faces intense public and political examination. Republicans have already branded him a “liberal boogeyman,” while some within his own Democratic Party deem his policies too far left. Progressives, meanwhile, are closely monitoring his every move for any indication of a shift towards the political center. On January 1, Mamdani will govern America’s largest city under this harsh spotlight, with the entire nation...