Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stunned New York City, the country and many in his own party when he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary last month.

The Zohran Mamdani victory in the Democratic mayoral primary last month was a big surprise for the New York political class, but it also sent shock waves rattling Democratic leaders coast to coast.

But a rent freeze would have precisely the same effects in New York as it has everywhere else: Particularly in a time of inflation, it would lead landlords to cut costs on maintenance, jack up prices ...