September 23, 2025 • 8 mins
Mendte in the Morning spoke with JC Polanco about the current state of the Democratic party and how far left they have gone.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
There are so many questions about politics these days, aren't there?
And a lot of politics nationally is focused on New York.
Is AOC going to be the next senator from New
York State? Is Zurin Mamdani going to be the next
mayor of New York City? And if so, does that
(00:20):
tell us something about the future of the Democratic Party?
Good questions. Let's talk to J. C. Polanco, political analyst
and University of Mount Saint Vincent assistant professor and attorney.
Thanks so much, Jac, as always for being with us.
Where is the Democratic Party going? If we keep talking
(00:41):
about AOC and they keep pushing AOC and Zurin Mamdani.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Look, Fidel Castro is trying to talk to the Democrats
and tell them to slow down. They're going too far left.
I mean, holy smokes, what is happening here? It's you know,
the Democratic Party has gone further left than in New
York City. It's just gone off the radar. I mean,
it's off the table. It's insanely left. And I believe
that the socialists have hijacked the Democratic Party in New York.
(01:10):
This is not the Peter Malone Democratic Party, this is
not the old school DEMOCRA. This is not the Ed
Coach Democratic Party. I don't even think this is the
Barack Obama Democratic Party. This is the AOC Democratic Party.
And the fact that Assemblyman Mam Donnie was able to
win a primary is a clear indicator. And the fact
that all of these mainstream Democrats, I mean folks that
(01:31):
know that the only way that the majority is by
winning those five states, the only way to electoral college
is by winning Middle America. They've endorsed Mamdanni because they
see the writing on the wall that the Democratic Party
has gone further left. Which is why it's so interesting
to see these polls across the state, across the country,
and even our neighbors out of New Jersey see what's
going to happen there in the governor's race. Well, start
(01:53):
being concerned about that.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Let's talk you about that governor's race for a second.
Did you buy any chance to watch the debate.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That they have mean? It was? It was mano Amano
is the thriller in Manila, and I believe strongly that
this election is going to be an exciting one heading
into November. Uh, you know you have two competing characters,
you know, ones the mainstream Democrat, the ones that we know,
the ones that we can work with. Uh. And the
other one is is more you know, New Jersey tough.
(02:20):
You can see that that persona comes across clear of
the camera. He's not afraid to go toe to toe.
He has a chip on his shoulder because the new
the New Jersey Giants and the New Jersey Jets play
in his state and call himself the New York Giants
and the New York Jets. These are things that I
see upset a lot of New Jerseyans. And I see
it in Chitderelli. I see that chip on his shoulder.
(02:42):
He comes out tough, uh. And you know, he comes
out as someone that I believe can win in New Jersey.
It just happens to how how can Chiterelly come to
the middle, go mano a mano with a centrist Democrat
and excite enough independence. Look, two point five million Democrats
in New Jersey, one point seven million Republicans, but there
(03:02):
are two point four million independents, So who can appeal
to us? Independents who can talk to us? And I
think that this debate is a great indicator. I can't
wait to see the next one, we saw allegations of
tripling someone's net worth. While in Congress we saw attacks
on you know, being too close to the president and
MAGA being quiet on the authoritarian streak that the president shows.
(03:24):
Sometimes we saw, you know, how did the Congress were
going to react to Charlie Kirk? Truly, you know, these
are things that we saw them combat. And I believe
that New Jersey voters are going to be paying attention
and fighting for the middle vote. And I think electricity
costs is where it's at and mcdonnie's going to have
an effect for sure. So there's an opportunity there for
the Republicans to pick up the governor's race in New Jersey.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Well, they almost won last time. Jack Chenarelli almost won
it last time. He was leading at the end of
the night. It was the mail in ballots that put
Phil Murphy over the top. So he is a polished candidate.
I watched I thought to myself, if this was the
last debate and not the first debate that not a
lot of people saw, she would have lost the election.
She was that bad, especially on taxes and on the
(04:10):
fact that she has made so much money on stocks
with her and her husband.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, you know, it's it looks bad and it's like
the October surprise come a little too early. It came
a little prematurity with some of these allegations, which I'm
sure she's going to defend herself on. But listen, when
you have such a state that goes Democrat one election,
Republican the other. And let's not forget that just last year, Larry,
they were parts of New Jersey that voted for President
(04:35):
Trump and numbers that shocked me. I could not believe
how many Latino counties came out and full blown supporting
the president. They saw a major swing to the GOP.
They're increasing their registration numbers. There is an opportunity here
for the Republicans, but it's so important. And this is
where you got to remind your listeners. The crazier some
of the things come out of the White House, the
worst it is for Tchitderelli. If we start seeing too
(04:57):
much authoritarian stuff, too much, you know ten this and
a tax on the press and things that will insult
independent voters, it hurts Jack Shudaurelli. What we need to
see right now is the President play a more centri streak,
not say anything crazy not have set the voters and
give Jack Shoudarelli a chance to go toe to toe
against a popular mainstream Democrat that is not like Mumdanni.
(05:17):
So the question is how can Mamdani impact that race?
How is mum Donnie's election in November houses campaign going
to energize some of the voters that lived near New
York City. Are they concerned about prime Are they concerned
about taxes? Are they concerned about what's going to happen
with a socialist Marxist mayor? That may help Jack Shoudarelli.
So the Mamdanni election, that mam Donnie campaign will have
(05:38):
an impact, no doubt in the New Jersey governor's race,
especially in the county's closest to New York City.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
You raised a really good point about Donald Trump, because
if you remember it, Chiitarelly four years ago during the
during the primary, he distanced himself from Donald Trump, and
that's the problem Republicans had with him. And now he
has embraced him. Now he wants his endorsement. I don't
know if He's going to have him come to New
(06:05):
Jersey or if Donald Trump's going to insist on coming
to New Jersey. But you're right, that's going to have
a huge impact on this race, depending on where we're
at when the election happens.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I could agree more. And look, when you take a
look at some of the things Chittarelli is hitting the
Congressoman on the skyrocketing electrical electricity bills. You know one
thing that I now know it's an eighty twenty ninety
ten issue that just a couple of years ago would
get you canceled, is coming out and saying biological males
should not be in women's sports competing for scholarships. And
(06:36):
I think that that's one of the arguments that the
far left is really pushing, trying to make it so
that's just everyone accepts it, and I think most voted
across the country have rejected that wholeheartedly. And now Jack
Chitarelli is just using it in these campaigns, and he
will use it more than ever before. He'll talk about
it during the campaign. And I think that New Jersey
(06:56):
voters are going to vote on issues that concern them.
This is one of them. There was a time that
we didn't want touch social issues, but now issues like
this are are now fair game. As we're seeing it's
an eighty twenty in some places ninety ten. Issue. Now,
the crazy thing, Larry, I want to say is you
have transgender Americans who don't support biological males in women's
(07:16):
sports right in large numbers. So one thing is saying
the transgender Americans should have civil rights, the other one
is saying biological males should be in women's sports. And
if Jack should have really does what Donald Trump did
during the election, which is spend money attacking Vice President
Harris on that issue and it doesn't go responded to
by the congresswoman, he could increase his numbers with men
(07:37):
in that district throughout New Jersey, his campaign strategy and
how he doubles out.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, she has to come up with a better answer
on taxes too, because she can't say I'm not going
to say anything about it right now. That's a huge
issue there. J. C. Polanco political analyst and University of
Mount Saint Vincent assistant professor and attorney. As always, jac
thank you
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Thank you, Larry,
There are so many questions about politics these days, aren't there?
And a lot of politics nationally is focused on New York.
Is AOC going to be the next senator from New
York State? Is Zurin Mamdani going to be the next
mayor of New York City? And if so, does that
(00:20):
tell us something about the future of the Democratic Party?
Good questions. Let's talk to J. C. Polanco, political analyst
and University of Mount Saint Vincent assistant professor and attorney.
Thanks so much, Jac, as always for being with us.
Where is the Democratic Party going? If we keep talking
(00:41):
about AOC and they keep pushing AOC and Zurin Mamdani.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Look, Fidel Castro is trying to talk to the Democrats
and tell them to slow down. They're going too far left.
I mean, holy smokes, what is happening here? It's you know,
the Democratic Party has gone further left than in New
York City. It's just gone off the radar. I mean,
it's off the table. It's insanely left. And I believe
that the socialists have hijacked the Democratic Party in New York.
(01:10):
This is not the Peter Malone Democratic Party, this is
not the old school DEMOCRA. This is not the Ed
Coach Democratic Party. I don't even think this is the
Barack Obama Democratic Party. This is the AOC Democratic Party.
And the fact that Assemblyman Mam Donnie was able to
win a primary is a clear indicator. And the fact
that all of these mainstream Democrats, I mean folks that
(01:31):
know that the only way that the majority is by
winning those five states, the only way to electoral college
is by winning Middle America. They've endorsed Mamdanni because they
see the writing on the wall that the Democratic Party
has gone further left. Which is why it's so interesting
to see these polls across the state, across the country,
and even our neighbors out of New Jersey see what's
going to happen there in the governor's race. Well, start
(01:53):
being concerned about that.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Let's talk you about that governor's race for a second.
Did you buy any chance to watch the debate.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That they have mean? It was? It was mano Amano
is the thriller in Manila, and I believe strongly that
this election is going to be an exciting one heading
into November. Uh, you know you have two competing characters,
you know, ones the mainstream Democrat, the ones that we know,
the ones that we can work with. Uh. And the
other one is is more you know, New Jersey tough.
(02:20):
You can see that that persona comes across clear of
the camera. He's not afraid to go toe to toe.
He has a chip on his shoulder because the new
the New Jersey Giants and the New Jersey Jets play
in his state and call himself the New York Giants
and the New York Jets. These are things that I
see upset a lot of New Jerseyans. And I see
it in Chitderelli. I see that chip on his shoulder.
(02:42):
He comes out tough, uh. And you know, he comes
out as someone that I believe can win in New Jersey.
It just happens to how how can Chiterelly come to
the middle, go mano a mano with a centrist Democrat
and excite enough independence. Look, two point five million Democrats
in New Jersey, one point seven million Republicans, but there
(03:02):
are two point four million independents, So who can appeal
to us? Independents who can talk to us? And I
think that this debate is a great indicator. I can't
wait to see the next one, we saw allegations of
tripling someone's net worth. While in Congress we saw attacks
on you know, being too close to the president and
MAGA being quiet on the authoritarian streak that the president shows.
(03:24):
Sometimes we saw, you know, how did the Congress were
going to react to Charlie Kirk? Truly, you know, these
are things that we saw them combat. And I believe
that New Jersey voters are going to be paying attention
and fighting for the middle vote. And I think electricity
costs is where it's at and mcdonnie's going to have
an effect for sure. So there's an opportunity there for
the Republicans to pick up the governor's race in New Jersey.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Well, they almost won last time. Jack Chenarelli almost won
it last time. He was leading at the end of
the night. It was the mail in ballots that put
Phil Murphy over the top. So he is a polished candidate.
I watched I thought to myself, if this was the
last debate and not the first debate that not a
lot of people saw, she would have lost the election.
She was that bad, especially on taxes and on the
(04:10):
fact that she has made so much money on stocks
with her and her husband.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, you know, it's it looks bad and it's like
the October surprise come a little too early. It came
a little prematurity with some of these allegations, which I'm
sure she's going to defend herself on. But listen, when
you have such a state that goes Democrat one election,
Republican the other. And let's not forget that just last year, Larry,
they were parts of New Jersey that voted for President
(04:35):
Trump and numbers that shocked me. I could not believe
how many Latino counties came out and full blown supporting
the president. They saw a major swing to the GOP.
They're increasing their registration numbers. There is an opportunity here
for the Republicans, but it's so important. And this is
where you got to remind your listeners. The crazier some
of the things come out of the White House, the
worst it is for Tchitderelli. If we start seeing too
(04:57):
much authoritarian stuff, too much, you know ten this and
a tax on the press and things that will insult
independent voters, it hurts Jack Shudaurelli. What we need to
see right now is the President play a more centri streak,
not say anything crazy not have set the voters and
give Jack Shoudarelli a chance to go toe to toe
against a popular mainstream Democrat that is not like Mumdanni.
(05:17):
So the question is how can Mamdani impact that race?
How is mum Donnie's election in November houses campaign going
to energize some of the voters that lived near New
York City. Are they concerned about prime Are they concerned
about taxes? Are they concerned about what's going to happen
with a socialist Marxist mayor? That may help Jack Shoudarelli.
So the Mamdanni election, that mam Donnie campaign will have
(05:38):
an impact, no doubt in the New Jersey governor's race,
especially in the county's closest to New York City.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
You raised a really good point about Donald Trump, because
if you remember it, Chiitarelly four years ago during the
during the primary, he distanced himself from Donald Trump, and
that's the problem Republicans had with him. And now he
has embraced him. Now he wants his endorsement. I don't
know if He's going to have him come to New
(06:05):
Jersey or if Donald Trump's going to insist on coming
to New Jersey. But you're right, that's going to have
a huge impact on this race, depending on where we're
at when the election happens.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I could agree more. And look, when you take a
look at some of the things Chittarelli is hitting the
Congressoman on the skyrocketing electrical electricity bills. You know one
thing that I now know it's an eighty twenty ninety
ten issue that just a couple of years ago would
get you canceled, is coming out and saying biological males
should not be in women's sports competing for scholarships. And
(06:36):
I think that that's one of the arguments that the
far left is really pushing, trying to make it so
that's just everyone accepts it, and I think most voted
across the country have rejected that wholeheartedly. And now Jack
Chitarelli is just using it in these campaigns, and he
will use it more than ever before. He'll talk about
it during the campaign. And I think that New Jersey
(06:56):
voters are going to vote on issues that concern them.
This is one of them. There was a time that
we didn't want touch social issues, but now issues like
this are are now fair game. As we're seeing it's
an eighty twenty in some places ninety ten. Issue. Now,
the crazy thing, Larry, I want to say is you
have transgender Americans who don't support biological males in women's
(07:16):
sports right in large numbers. So one thing is saying
the transgender Americans should have civil rights, the other one
is saying biological males should be in women's sports. And
if Jack should have really does what Donald Trump did
during the election, which is spend money attacking Vice President
Harris on that issue and it doesn't go responded to
by the congresswoman, he could increase his numbers with men
(07:37):
in that district throughout New Jersey, his campaign strategy and
how he doubles out.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, she has to come up with a better answer
on taxes too, because she can't say I'm not going
to say anything about it right now. That's a huge
issue there. J. C. Polanco political analyst and University of
Mount Saint Vincent assistant professor and attorney. As always, jac
thank you
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Thank you, Larry,
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