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NEW YORK — Progressive stars Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are teaming up with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Sunday night for a “New York is Not for Sale” rally at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York.
The high-profile campaign event comes nearly a week before Election Day, as New Yorkers head to the polls for the first weekend of early voting, capping a contentious battle for mayor where Mamdani’s unexpected success propelled him onto the national stage.
“Zohran Mamdani models a different kind of politics,” Sanders, a former Democratic presidential candidate and longtime progressive leader, said in a statement before the rally.
The trio of self-identified democratic socialists have reinvigorated the Democratic Party’s progressive base at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses in 2024, amid growing discontent with President Donald Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda.
BERNIE SANDERS RIPS DEM LEADERS FOR SNOBBING MAMDANI IN MAYOR’S RACE: “HE’S OUR GUY!”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hold hands during the “Fighting the Oligarchy” town hall event at Brooklyn College on September 6, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
When Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez teamed up for the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour earlier this year, they generated considerable buzz, igniting thousands of Democrats at rallies across the United States left without a clear party leader.
BERNIE SANDERS AND ZOHRAN MAMDANI SET UP TO “FIGHT THE OLIGARCHY” IN NYC
“As mayor, he will not lead a top-down, billionaire-funded, consultant-run administration. Instead, Zohran will be a champion of New York’s workers,” Sanders said.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez campaigned alongside Mamdani in his bid to lead the nation’s most populous city.
On Friday evening, Sanders appeared for a virtual “Get Out the Vote” event with Mamdani. Last month, Sanders and Mamdani teamed up for a “Fighting the Oligarchy” town hall in Brooklyn.
Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, answers questions from reporters after the final debate on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, before Election Day. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
Before the event at Brooklyn City Hall, the two progressive leaders marched alongside union activists in Manhattan’s Labor Day parade. That afternoon, Mamdani posed for a photo with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez in Astoria, Queens, amassing millions of views.
Sanders, a two-time Democratic presidential runner-up, was an early supporter of Mamdani’s primary campaign, alongside Ocasio-Cortez. Their endorsements helped Mamdani consolidate progressive support among the 11 candidates in the final weeks of the primary race.
Mamdani’s major upset triggered a political earthquake when the democratic socialist handily defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was widely expected to secure the Democratic nomination.
Mamdani’s crossover support with fellow progressive New York City Comptroller Brad Lander allowed Mamdani to consolidate his support against Cuomo through ranked-choice voting.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., greet the crowd together during a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour at Arizona State University, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)
Cuomo has since launched an independent campaign, setting off a competitive and contentious general election battle.
Since Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination, Trump has called him a “100 percent crazy communist” and “my little communist,” introducing Mamdani to the national political scene. Mamdani rejected the nickname, saying he identifies as a democratic socialist, like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.
As Trump began criticizing Mamdani, New York Democrats opted to withhold their support for the socialist candidate, who has made a series of ambitious campaign promises, like free, fast buses, city-run grocery stores and free day care, which he plans to fund by raising taxes on businesses and the richest 1 percent of New Yorkers.
After months of withholding their support, Gov. Kathy Hochul finally endorsed Mamdani last month and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally affirmed his support in a statement Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to endorse the proposal.
Supporters of Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gather outside 30 Rock in New York on Thursday, October 16, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
Pressure had been mounting since Mamdani won the Democratic primary in June for Mayor Eric Adams, who was also running as an independent, or Cuomo to withdraw from the race to consolidate support against Mamdani. Adams dropped out of the race and endorsed Cuomo on Thursday.
That pressure reached a boiling point last week when billionaires, including Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman, called on Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race in order to pave the way for Cuomo to win.
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The latest Fox News investigation, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of last week’s first general election debate, found that Mamdani has a substantial lead in the race. According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters, with 49% of voters supporting Mamdani, while 28% favor Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa.
Mamdani also passed the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo got 28% and Sliwa received just 14%.
