FOR IRISH PEOPLE following the New York mayoral race, which concluded last night with the election of Zohran Mamdani, they may have noticed similarities between the campaigns of the mayoral-elect and Ireland’s president-elect Catherine Connolly.

One place in particular that drew comparison was the graphics of both campaigns. 

Catherine Connolly’s graphics were designed by Anna Cassidy, a 26 year old who became involved in the campaign early. Cassidy previously told The Journal about her inspiration behind the graphics: based on Connolly’s roots as a Galway Gaeilgeoir and her vision of “warmth, authenticity and pride”.

While Ireland’s political campaigning for the presidential election wrapped up on polling day on 24 October, in New York, it was ramping up for its mayoral elections.

As frontrunner Mamdani gained further momentum, his graphics also came to the fore. Some people pointed out the similarities between his and Connolly’s, which, while individual of each other, have a retro feel that is inspired by their respective cities and countries.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji react to supporters during an election night watch party. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Aneesh Bhoopathy, the man behind Mamdani’s graphics, told The Hollywood Reporter it was inspired by vintage Bollywood film posters, in tribute to Mamdani’s South Asian heritage, and New York’s bodega awnings, cabs, and lottery tickets.

Bhoopathy, who had worked with Mamdani previously on his assembly campaign, said he admired how seriously Mamdani took design communications.

“I remember he wanted to do something about getting people to take the census and explaining the importance of it. He wanted to make something that looked like New York State Lottery scratch-off tickets,” he said.

“So it was so cool to have someone come up with ideas like that and then just be excited about what we could do with it visually. I definitely was like, “This is a talented guy.”

Speaking to The Journal this morning, Cassidy said her vision for Connolly’s graphics came from old Irish shop front signage, particularly from Galway. Connolly’s team tasked Cassidy with creating the campaign’s branding and visual identity after she had sent them sample graphics.

“I can definitely see similarities between Catherine’s campaign and Mamdani’s in New York,” Cassidy said. Of the graphics, both “are local” and reflect their various campaigning grounds, despite aesthetic similarities.

The colours of Mamdani’s campaign – yellow, blue, and red – were chosen as “it’s the primary colors that are on so many things in New York, like the Metro Card and the New York Lottery”, Bhoopathy said.

As for Connolly’s colours, greens and oranges, they were chosen to represent the Irish flag without being “very out there”.

The 'stamp' graphic that reads, I'm voting for Catherine Connolly. Instagram Instagram

Cassidy said she could see similarities between how both campaigns were conducted – both Connolly and Mamdani mobilised their grassroots campaigns through large numbers of volunteers and appealed to the youth vote in a way their opponents didn’t.

For Connolly, she achieved this through gigs at Vicar Street, meeting with young people at Electric Picnic and operating an intense social media campaign. In New York, Mamdani hit up nightclubs, the city’s marathon, and attended gatherings of different groups of voters all across the city.

Zohran Mamdani / The Journal Zohran Mamdani / The Journal / The Journal

Both representatives are socialists and their respective elections show that this type of campaigning works, Cassidy said.

Connolly’s distinctive messaging through graphics and social media set her apart from the way mainstream political parties communicate, Cassidy said, and in New York, despite running as a Democrat, Mamdani was also campaigning on a different platform.

The way they set out their visions differed from their opponents, focusing on what they wished to achieve in office rather than negative campaigning, an accusation levelled against Fine Gael as polling day drew closer.

Cassidy said she has been a believer in Connolly’s capacity to become president since before she became involved with the campaign, and hopes that her role in creating the look of it has contributed in some way to her election.