Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ignited a Republican firestorm after urging residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent strain on the city's power grid as New York City braces for a sweltering Fourth of July weekend with temperatures expected to soar.
Mamdani posted on X, encouraging New Yorkers and business owners to conserve electricity as demand for cooling surges. He stated, "New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool. Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can." Mamdani insisted that voluntary conservation would save lives, protect vulnerable residents, and keep the power on. City government buildings will also adhere to the 78°F thermostat guideline, and the city has dimmed public lighting to reduce grid strain.
The city has issued urgent grid alerts, opened hundreds of cooling centers, and extended public pool hours as extreme summer heat pushes the power system to its limits.
Republicans quickly responded to Mamdani's comments, characterizing the advice as a socialist directive and accusing him of asking residents to sacrifice comfort due to failed energy policies. Senator Ted Cruz mocked the guidance, posting, "In a first-world country, you could turn on the A/C...." Representative Brandon Gill added, "Welcome to socialism, where the government demands you turn your house into a sauna because they can't plan for the super unpredictable fact that it tends to get hot in the summer." Representative Anna Paulina Luna quipped, "Socialism works tho."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined the criticism, writing, "Is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism?" Senator Rand Paul blamed socialism, writing, "Proof that communism is (unfortunately) alive and well." Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated, "Turns out socialism actually isn't free." Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy commented, "This is what socialism looks like, folks. The right answer isn't restrictions or mandates. It's drilling, fracking, coal, & nuclear. That's how we'll roll in Ohio. (And he sounds eerily just like Amy Acton during Covid)."
Mamdani reiterated his advice on Thursday after the New York Independent System Operator warned that soaring temperatures could significantly strain the state's electrical grid. "During a historic heatwave, AC will save lives — but only if we keep the grid stable enough for it to stay on," Mamdani wrote.
This suggestion is not unprecedented. During recent power emergencies in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott supported similar conservation requests from the state's electric grid operator, urging Texans to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to reduce electricity demand. Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams also encouraged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees during a 2023 heat wave to ease pressure on the city's power grid.
